JP3347609B2 - Clutch wear detector - 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 wear detecting device disposed between a driving force source and a transmission for transmitting and interrupting torque.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, clutches arranged between a driving force source and a transmission for transmitting and interrupting torque include a friction clutch, an electromagnetic clutch, and a fluid clutch. Among them, the friction clutch has been applied to various vehicles because its structure is relatively simple, torque is intermittently ensured, and trouble can be easily repaired. In this friction clutch, since the operation amount of the clutch pedal and the torque transmission characteristic change in accordance with the wear of the clutch disk, it is necessary to replace the clutch disk when a certain amount of wear is reached.

An example of a wear detecting device capable of detecting the amount of wear of the clutch disk as described above is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 60-160.
-16022. The clutch described in this publication includes a clutch disk spline-fitted to a drive shaft, components such as a pressure plate, a release bearing, and a shifter for operating the clutch disk, and a push rod, a lever, and a release connected to a release cylinder. It is composed of parts such as forks. Further, an indicator unit having a scale provided with a scale and a pointer is provided, and one end of the pointer is connected to the push rod.

In the wear detecting device having the above-described structure, an initial relative position is set at which the hands and the scale of the scale are set to "0" at the start of use of the clutch disk. "M
ax ”. That is, the wear state of the clutch disk can be confirmed by the relative position between the pointer and the scale of the scale. Then, the clutch is disassembled and the clutch disk is replaced before the pointer indicates "Max".

[0005]

However, in the clutch wear detecting device described in the above publication, the initial relative position is set by matching the scale scale "0" with the pointer. It is difficult to align the scale with the scale due to errors in the assembled state of the components arranged in the connection path between the scale and the clutch disk, that is, backlash, and the initial relative position of the pointer to the "0" of the scale is difficult. The settings could be incorrect.

Further, since the alignment between the scale and the scale is performed by visual confirmation, the visual confirmation of the operator varies, and the initial relative position tends to be more inaccurate. As a result, the detection accuracy of the amount of wear of the clutch disk may be reduced, and the torque transmission performance of the clutch disk may be impaired.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a clutch capable of accurately setting an initial relative position between a movable member and a wear detecting member and improving detection accuracy of a wear amount of a clutch disk. It is an object of the present invention to provide a wear detecting device.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a movable member which is operated in conjunction with a clutch disk, and a fixedly arranged wear detecting member. In a clutch wear detection device that detects wear of the clutch disk based on a relative position between a member and the wear detection member, the clutch wear detection device is provided on one of the movable member or the wear detection member, and provided on the other member. A relative position setting member that abuts and sets a relative position between the movable member and the wear detection member, and is formed at a connection portion between the movable member or the wear detection member and the relative position setting member, and A fragile portion that is broken by the operation of the movable member and detaches the relative position setting member from the movable member or the wear detection member. .

According to the present invention, the relative position between the friction detecting member and the movable member is set by bringing the relative position setting member into contact with the friction detecting member or the movable member. Can be set accurately. Further, since the contact state between the friction detecting member or the movable member and the relative position setting member is determined by a tactile sensation by an operator, the setting accuracy of the initial relative position between the friction detecting member and the movable member performed by each operator. Becomes uniform.
Therefore, the detection accuracy of the wear amount of the clutch disk is improved, and the clutch disk can be replaced at an appropriate time, and the torque transmission performance of the clutch disk is maintained in a good state.

Further, since the relative position setting member is provided on one of the movable member and the friction detecting member, the operation of setting the initial relative position between the wear detecting member and the movable member can be performed in a short time without using a special jig. And the workability is improved.

Further, the fragile portion is broken by the operation of the movable member, and the relative position setting member is automatically separated from the wear detecting member or the movable member. Therefore, after setting the initial relative position between the movable member and the wear detection member, it is possible to omit the operation of manually detaching the relative position setting member from the wear detection member or the movable member by the operator, thereby improving workability. Further improve.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a front half sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a transmission 1 to which the present invention is applied, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a clutch wear detection device applied to the transmission 1 of FIG. A flywheel 4 fixed to a crankshaft 3 of an engine (not shown) is disposed inside a clutch housing 2 of the transmission 1.

An input shaft 5 is disposed inside the clutch housing 2, and a tip of the input shaft 5 is rotatably held by a bearing 6 attached to a rear end of the crankshaft 3. A cylindrical hub 7 is spline-fitted to the outer periphery of the input shaft 5, and a disk-shaped clutch disk 8 is attached to the outer periphery of the hub 7.

An annular clutch cover 9 is fixed to the outer peripheral side of the flywheel 4 by screws 10, and between the flywheel 4 and the clutch cover 9 is provided.
An annular pressure plate 11 is arranged. Further, an annular diaphragm spring 12 is arranged between the clutch cover 9 and the pressure plate 11.

A retracting spring 14 is fixed to the pressure plate 11 with a screw 13.
The outer peripheral end of the diaphragm spring 12 is supported by the retracting spring 14. Further, a pivot ring 15 is arranged on the inner peripheral side of the retracting spring 14, and the diaphragm spring 12 is held by the pivot ring 15. A release bearing 16 is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the input shaft 5 so as to be movable in the axial direction.
Are pressed against the inner peripheral end of the diaphragm spring 12.

The clutch housing 2 has an insertion hole 1
A release fork 18 is inserted into the insertion hole 17. A support pin 19 is provided inside the clutch housing 2, and the release fork 1 is provided.
8 is operably supported with the support pin 19 as a fulcrum.

The end of the release fork 18 inside the clutch housing 2 is connected to the release bearing 16. The clutch housing 2
A boot 20 is mounted in the insertion hole 17 to maintain the airtightness between the insertion hole 17 and the release fork 18.
A concave portion 21 is formed at an end of the release fork 18 on the outside of the clutch housing 2.

On the other hand, outside the clutch housing 2,
The release cylinder 24 is fixed by the stat bolt 22 and the nut 23.
Has a push rod 25. The release cylinder 24 is connected to a clutch master cylinder (not shown), and the push rod 25 is operated by hydraulic pressure supplied by operating a clutch pedal (not shown). The tip of the push rod 25 is
The boot 26 is mounted between the release cylinder 24 and the push rod 25.

An indicator 28 is fixed to the stat bolt 22 by a nut 27. The indicator 28 is formed in a plate shape from a metal, a resin, or the like, and has a substrate portion 29 disposed in parallel with the axis A of the release cylinder 24.
And an inclined portion 30 connected to the end of the substrate portion 29 on the release cylinder 18 side and inclined in a direction away from the release cylinder 18.

A long hole 31 in the direction of the axis A is formed in the substrate portion 29, and the stat bolt 22 is inserted into the long hole 31. An edge 32 for reinforcement is formed at a side edge extending over the substrate portion 29 and the inclined portion 30, and the inclined portion 3 is formed.
A contact piece 34 is formed at the end of the release fork 18 on the side of the “0” via a connecting piece 33. The connection piece 33 and the contact piece 34 are arranged on the extension of the axis A as shown in FIG.

The connecting piece 33 and the abutting piece 34 have substantially the same thickness, and the connecting portion between the connecting piece 33 and the abutting piece 34 is cut into a V-shaped section to reduce the thickness of the connecting piece. 33
Further, a fragile portion 35 which is set thinner than the contact piece 34 is formed. The cut is formed in a direction perpendicular to the axis A as shown in FIG.

Here, the correspondence between the claims of the present invention and the configuration of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. The release fork 18 corresponds to the movable member of the present invention, and the indicator 28
Corresponds to the wear detecting member of the present invention, and the contact piece 34 corresponds to the relative position setting member of the present invention.

Next, the operation of setting the initial relative position between the connection piece 33 and the release fork 18 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. First, in the assembling process of the transmission 1, a load is applied to press the inner peripheral side of the diaphragm spring 12 toward the crankshaft 3, and the diaphragm spring 12 is elastically deformed with the pivot spring 15 as a fulcrum.

As a result, the elastic force of the diaphragm spring 12 is transmitted to the pressure plate 11, and the clutch disc 4 is sandwiched between the flywheel 4 and the pressure plate 11, and the clutch is engaged. The load applied to the diaphragm spring 12 is set so that the engagement pressure of the clutch disk 4, that is, the torque capacity becomes a value corresponding to the torque transmitted from the crankshaft 3.

In the engaged state of the clutch as described above, the stat bolt 31 is inserted into the long hole 31 of the indicator 28.
Is inserted and the nut 27 is slightly tightened to perform temporary fixing. Then, the indicator 28 is moved in the direction of the axis A, and as shown in FIG. And the indicator 28 is fixed to the stat bolt 22.

In this way, the initial relative position of the connection piece 33 and the release fork 18 in the direction of the axis A is set. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the corner 33A of the connection piece 33 on the opposite side of the boot 26 and the corner 18A of the release fork 18 on the opposite side of the boot 26 are arranged at substantially the same position in the direction of the axis A. After the work of setting the initial relative position is completed, the operator manually breaks the fragile portion 35 to separate the contact piece 34 from the connection piece 33.

When the transmission 1 having the above configuration is mounted on a vehicle and the clutch disc 8 and the flywheel 4 are engaged, the output torque of the engine is transmitted via the crankshaft 3, the clutch disc 4 and the hub 7. And transmitted to the input shaft 5.

When the clutch pedal is depressed and hydraulic pressure is supplied to the release cylinder 24, the release rod 25 moves rightward in the figure and the release fork 18 moves clockwise in the figure around the support pin 19 as a fulcrum. The angle is rotated. Then, the release bearing 16 moves to the left in the drawing, the diaphragm spring 12 operates with the pivot ring 15 as a fulcrum, the clutch disc 8 separates from the flywheel 4 and the clutch is released, and the transmission of torque is interrupted. You.

When the clutch disc 8 wears over time due to the transmission of torque, a release fork 18 connected to the clutch disc 8 via components such as a pressure plate 11, a diaphragm spring 12, and a release bearing 16 The clutch disk 8 is rotated counterclockwise about the support pin 19 in accordance with the wear amount of the clutch disk 8.

Then, the release fork 18 and the connecting piece 3
The wear of the clutch disc 8 is detected based on the relative position of the clutch disc 8 with respect to the direction A. Further, when the wear of the clutch disc 8 progresses and the positions of the corners 18A of the release fork 18 and the corners 33B of the connection piece 33 on the boot 26 side substantially coincide with each other in the direction of the axis A as shown in FIG. Detects that the wear amount of the clutch disk 8 has reached a predetermined value, and the operation of replacing the clutch disk 8 with a new one is performed.

As described above, according to the above embodiment, since the contact piece 34 is brought into contact with the release fork 18 to set the relative position of the connection piece 33 and the release fork 18 in the direction of the axis A, the connection piece 33 and release fork 18
It is possible to set the initial relative position accurately.
In addition, since the contact state between the release fork 18 and the contact piece 34 is determined by the operator by touch, the setting accuracy of the initial relative position between the connection piece 33 and the release fork 18 performed by each operator is uniform. become. Therefore, the detection accuracy of the wear amount of the clutch disk 8 which progresses with time is improved, and the clutch disk 8 can be replaced at an appropriate time, and the torque transmission performance of the clutch disk 8 is maintained in a good state. You.

The contact piece 3 is provided on a part of the indicator 28.
Since the number 4 is formed, the initial relative position between the release fork 18 and the connection piece 33 can be easily set in a short time without using a special jig, and the workability is improved.

Further, according to this embodiment, the contact piece 34
Is connected to the connecting piece 33, and the transmission 1 is mounted on the vehicle with the contact piece 34 engaged with the release fork 18, even if the clutch mechanism is released, that is, the clutch pedal is operated once. As shown in FIG. 3, when the release fork 18 is rotated clockwise by a predetermined angle in the figure, the release fork 18 applies a load to the contact piece 34 in a direction to separate the contact piece 34 from the connection piece 33. Therefore, the fragile portion 35 is broken by this load, and the contact piece 34 is automatically separated from the connection piece 33.

Accordingly, it is possible to omit the operation of manually detaching the contact piece 34 in the assembling process of the transmission 1, thereby further improving the workability. If the worker forgets to remove the contact piece 34 from the connection piece 33 in the process of assembling the transmission 1, it works as a compensation function.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing another configuration example of the indicator 28, and FIG. 5 is a front view of the indicator 28 of FIG. In this embodiment, a cut for forming the fragile portion 35 is formed on the surface opposite to the embodiment shown in FIGS. Other configurations are the same as those of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, and the same operation and effects as those of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 can be obtained.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing another example of the configuration of the indicator 28. As shown in FIG. In the indicator 28 of FIG. 6, V is formed on both side edges of the connection portion between the connection piece 33 and the contact piece 34.
Shaped and circular cuts are formed, and the strength of the fragile portion 35 is further reduced. Other configurations are shown in FIGS.
This embodiment is the same as the embodiment, and the same effects as those of FIGS. 1 and 2 can be obtained.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are plan views showing another embodiment of the clutch wear detecting device. FIG. 9 is a partial right side view of FIGS.
6 is attached. The indicator 36 has a substrate 37 substantially orthogonal to the axis A, and a connecting portion 38 integrally connected to the release fork 18 from the front end of the substrate 37 substantially parallel to the axis A. The release fork 18 is integrally formed of metal, resin, or the like.
And the connection portion 3 are connected in a plane L shape.

A pair of clamps 39 are formed on the substrate 37, and the push rod 25 is held between the clamps 39. The free end of the connecting portion 38 has a narrow brittle portion 4.
An abutment piece 41 having a substantially rectangular plane is formed through the “0”. A claw 42 is formed on a side edge of the free end of the connection portion 38 on the side of the release cylinder 24. In addition,
On the surface of the release cylinder 24 on the indicator 36 side, a block 43 having a substantially rectangular plane is formed. The other configuration is the same as that of the embodiment shown in FIGS.

Here, the claims of the present invention and FIGS.
Explaining the correspondence with the configuration of the embodiment of FIG. 9, the release fork 18, the push rod 25, and the indicator 38 correspond to the movable member of the present invention, the block 42 corresponds to the wear detecting member, and the connection piece 41 corresponds to the relative position. It corresponds to a position setting member.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the indicator 36 is attached to the push rod 25 with the clutch engaged in the process of assembling the transmission.
In this case, the side edge 44 of the connection piece 41 on the boot 26 side and the side surface 45 of the block 43 on the opposite side of the boot 26 abut,
That is, the engagement is performed, and the initial relative position of the block 43 and the indicator 36 in the direction of the axis A is set.

After the operation of setting the initial relative position is performed, the fragile portion 40 is broken manually, and the contact piece 41 is separated from the connection portion 38. 1 to 3, the clutch disk is worn and the release fork 18 rotates counterclockwise in the drawing, and the relative position between the block 43 and the claw 42 of the indicator 36 causes the release of the clutch disk. Wear is detected.

Further, as the wear of the clutch disk progresses, as shown in FIG.
At the time point when they reach substantially the same position in the direction of the axis A, it is determined that the wear amount of the clutch disk has reached a predetermined value,
The clutch disk is replaced.

Also, after setting the initial relative position, 4
When the release fork 18 is moved rightward in the drawing by depressing the clutch pedal once even if the separation of the contact lever 1 is not performed, the block 43 is opposed to the contact piece 41 from the block 43 to the left in the drawing. Force acts. Then, the fragile portion 40 is broken by the reaction force, and the contact piece 41 is connected to the connection piece 3.
8 automatically separated. Therefore, in the embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 9, the same effects as those of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 can be obtained.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 9,
It is also possible to form a scale on the indicators 28, 36 or the block 43 to detect the degree of wear of the clutch disk 8 finely. Also, it is possible to fix the indicator 28 to the release cylinder 24 by forming a pair of clamps on the indicator 28 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 and holding the release cylinder 24 with the clamps.

Further, it is possible to form a relative position setting member at the outer end of the clutch housing of the release fork via a fragile portion. In this case, the indicator fixed to the release cylinder corresponds to the friction detecting member of the present invention, and the release fork corresponds to the movable member of the present invention. In the transmission assembling process, an operation of setting the initial relative position by bringing the relative position setting member into contact with the indicator is performed, and thereafter, the weak portion is automatically broken by manual operation or operation of the clutch pedal. The relative position setting member is detached from the end of the release fork. Therefore, the same effect as that of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 can be obtained.

Here, the characteristic features of the invention disclosed on the basis of the above specific examples are listed as follows. That is, an indicator is fixed to the release cylinder, and a contact piece that is engaged with the release fork and sets a relative position between the indicator and the release fork is formed on the indicator. Vulnerable parts are formed. When the contact piece is engaged with the release fork, the operation of the release fork breaks the fragile portion, and the contact piece is automatically separated from the indicator.

An indicator is fixed to the push rod of the release cylinder, and the indicator has a contact piece which is engaged with a part of the release cylinder. The relative positions of the block, the push rod, and the release fork are set by the engagement between the contact piece and the block. And a weak part is formed in the connection part of an indicator and a contact piece. If the contact piece is engaged with a part of the release cylinder, the operation of the release fork breaks the fragile portion, and the contact piece is automatically separated from the indicator.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, the relative position between the friction detecting member and the movable member is set by bringing the relative position setting member into contact with the friction detecting member or the movable member. It is possible to accurately set the initial relative position between the detection member and the movable member. Further, since the contact state between the friction detecting member or the movable member and the relative position setting member is determined by a tactile sensation by an operator, the setting accuracy of the initial relative position between the friction detecting member and the movable member performed by each operator. Becomes uniform. Therefore, the detection accuracy of the wear amount of the clutch disk is improved, and the clutch disk can be replaced at an appropriate time, and the torque transmission performance of the clutch disk is maintained in a good state.

Further, since the relative position setting member is provided on one of the movable member and the friction detecting member, the operation of setting the initial relative position between the wear detecting member and the movable member can be performed in a short time without using a special jig. And the workability is improved.

Further, the fragile portion is broken by the operation of the movable member, and the relative position setting member is automatically separated from the wear detecting member or the movable member. Therefore, after setting the initial relative position between the movable member and the wear detection member, it is possible to omit the operation of manually detaching the relative position setting member from the wear detection member or the movable member by the operator, thereby improving workability. Further improve.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front half sectional view of a clutch mechanism having a clutch wear device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a clutch wear detecting device applied to the clutch mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an operation state of the clutch wear detecting device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing another configuration example of the indicator applied to the clutch wear detection device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the indicator of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front view showing another configuration example of the indicator applied to the clutch wear detecting device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the clutch wear detecting device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the operation of the clutch wear detecting device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side view of an indicator used in the clutch wear detecting device of FIG. 7;

[Description of Signs] 8 Clutch disk 18 Release fork 25 Push rod 28 Indicator 34 Contact piece 35 Fragile part

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Yukihisa Takashi 2-1-1 Asahi-cho, Kariya-shi, Aichi Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. 155 434 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Hei 9-96434 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Utility Model 63-96404 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F16D 25/08 F16D 13/75

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A movable member that is operated in conjunction with a clutch disk; and a wear detection member fixedly disposed. The clutch member includes a movable member and a wear detection member. In a clutch wear detection device that detects wear, the clutch is provided on one of the movable member or the wear detection member, and is in contact with the other member to determine a relative position between the movable member and the wear detection member. A relative position setting member to be set, formed at a connecting portion between the movable member or the wear detection member and the relative position setting member, and is broken by an operation of the movable member to move the relative position setting member to the movable member. Alternatively, a wear detecting device for a clutch, comprising: a fragile portion detached from the wear detecting member.