JP3769362B2 - Clutch release bearing device and disc spring for the bearing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a clutch release bearing device incorporated between an engine and a transmission, in particular, a self-aligning clutch release bearing device that allows misalignment between the engine and the transmission, and a disc spring used in the bearing device. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The clutch release bearing device is installed between the engine and transmission of a manual transmission vehicle, and slides on the front cover protruding from the transmission when the clutch pedal is operated to switch the clutch ON / OFF. have. This bearing device includes a substantially cylindrical resin sleeve, a side plate with which a clutch fork abuts, a ball bearing in sliding contact with the side plate, and a disc spring interposed between the ball bearing and the sleeve. And are the main components.
[0003]
Of the above components, the disc spring (4) is capable of aligning with the sleeve of the ball bearing, and as shown in FIG. 8, an annular base (4a) provided at the large-diameter end, A substantially conical steel plate having a plurality of notches (4b) formed at equal intervals from the small diameter end and a plurality of tongue pieces (4c) formed between adjacent notches (4b) It is a press-formed product.
[0004]
As shown in FIG. 9, the bearing device is assembled by extrapolating the assembly of the ball bearing (3) and the disc spring (4) from the clutch side end (upper part of the drawing) to the outer periphery of the sleeve (1). The cylindrical jig (5) is inserted between the ball bearing (3) and the sleeve (1), and the small diameter end (40) (tongue piece) of the disc spring (4) is inserted into the end face of the jig (5). With the tip of 4c in contact, the flange (3b1) of the outer ring (3b) of the ball bearing (3) is pressed against the end surface (2a) of the side plate (2) and the tongue of the disc spring (4) This is performed by pushing the jig (5) until the piece (4c) is fitted into an annular engagement groove (1c) provided on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve (1). The disc spring (4) incorporated in this manner presses the ball bearing (3) against the side plate (2) with a predetermined urging force, and holds the ball bearing (3) with a predetermined alignment resistance.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in order to make the clutch release bearing more compact, it is necessary to reduce the annular clearance between the ball bearing (3) and the sleeve (1). In this case, it is necessary to reduce the thickness of the jig (5) according to the width of the gap, but as the jig becomes thinner, as shown in FIG. 10, the jig end surface (5a) becomes closer to the inner diameter side. The tip portion (small diameter portion 40) of the disc spring (4) can be easily caught in the chamfered portion (5b) provided. If such biting occurs, it becomes difficult to push the assembly further, and the assembling workability deteriorates.
[0006]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent the disc spring from being caught in the jig inner diameter portion when the disc spring is press-fitted.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, an inner ring that contacts the rotating member of the clutch device, an outer ring having an inwardly facing outer ring flange, a ball bearing having a plurality of balls interposed between the inner ring and the outer ring,
It has a side plate that extends to the outer diameter side, and can be slid in the axial direction on the front cover of the transmission by operation of the release fork. Sleeve,
It has a cylindrical shape with a small diameter part that engages with the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve and a large diameter part that presses against the outer ring collar part of the ball bearing, and the outer ring collar part is elastically pressed against the side plate of the sleeve to adjust the ball bearing. In the one having a disc spring that holds the heart
The small diameter portion of the disc spring is shaped so that the difference between the inscribed circle radius and the circumscribed circle radius is larger than the wall thickness of the small diameter portion (Claim 1).
[0008]
Further, the disc spring according to the present invention includes an inner ring that contacts a rotating member of the clutch device, an outer ring having an inwardly facing outer ring collar part, a ball bearing having a plurality of balls interposed between the inner ring and the outer ring,
It has a side plate that extends to the outer diameter side, and can be slid in the axial direction on the front cover of the transmission by operation of the release fork. A disc spring provided in a clutch release bearing device having a sleeve,
It has a cylindrical shape with a small diameter part that engages with the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve and a large diameter part that presses against the outer ring collar part of the ball bearing, and the outer ring collar part is elastically pressed against the side plate of the sleeve to adjust the ball bearing. In what is held in mind,
The small diameter portion is shaped such that the difference between the inscribed circle radius and the circumscribed circle radius is greater than the thickness of the small diameter portion.
[0009]
Specifically, the disc spring includes an annular base portion having the large-diameter portion on one end side, and a plurality of tongue pieces having a cross-sectional curvature reduced from the other end side of the annular base portion and having the small-diameter portion on the distal end portion. (Claims 2 and 4).
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 1, a clutch release bearing device (A) according to the present invention includes a resin sleeve (1), a side plate (2) integrally formed (insert molding) with the sleeve (1), and a sleeve ( A ball bearing (3) disposed between the outer periphery (1a) of 1) and one end face (2a) of the side plate (2), and a disc spring (4) as elastic means.
[0012]
The sleeve (1) is a substantially cylindrical molded body made of a resin material, and an inner periphery (1b) thereof is slidably fitted on a front cover (33: see FIG. 7). A side plate (2) protrudes integrally from the end of the sleeve (1) on the transmission side (right side of the drawing), and on the outer peripheral surface (1a) of the sleeve on the clutch side (left side of the drawing) A protruding stopper portion (1a2) is formed. The stopper portion (1a2) has a function of engaging with the small diameter end (40) of the disc spring (4) and preventing the displacement thereof after the assembly is completed. The stopper (1a2) has a narrow width, and the clutch side is an obtuse inclined wall, and the other end engaged with the small diameter end (40) of the disc spring (4) is a vertical wall or a slightly acute inclined wall. The inclined wall on the clutch side has a function of guiding the small diameter end (40) of the disc spring (4) when the clutch is installed. An annular engagement groove (1c) is formed on the transmission side of the stopper (1a2), and the depth thereof is slightly deeper than the sleeve outer peripheral surface (1a) on the clutch side.
[0013]
The side plate (2) is made of a steel plate press, and a flange (3b1) of an outer ring (3b) of a ball bearing (3), which will be described later, abuts on one end surface (2a) in a slidable manner in the radial direction. Abutting portions (2b) with which the release fork (34: see FIG. 7) abuts are disposed on the other end face, for example, at 180 ° facing positions.
[0014]
The ball bearing (3) includes an inner ring (3a) made of a steel plate press having an outward flange (3a1) at one end that contacts the diaphragm spring (35: see FIG. 7) of the clutch device, and an inward flange ( 3b1) at the other end made of a steel plate press outer ring (3b) and a plurality of balls interposed between the inner ring (3a) and the outer ring (3b) and in angular contact with the respective raceway surfaces (3a2) (3b2) (3c), the cage (3d) that holds the balls (3c) at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction, and one end side (clutch device) between the outer diameter surface of the inner ring (3a) and the inner diameter surface of the outer ring (3b) A first seal member (3e) that seals at the side) and a second seal member (3f) that seals at the other end (mission side). In this embodiment, the first seal member (3e) is a non-contact type elastic seal, and the outer diameter side portion thereof is press-fitted into the inner diameter surface of the end portion of the outer ring (3b), and the lip portion on the inner diameter side is the inner ring ( 3a) is close to the outer diameter surface on one end side through a labyrinth gap. The second seal member (3f) is a shield plate made of a steel plate press having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and the outer diameter side portion thereof is press-fitted and fixed to the inner diameter surface of the end portion of the outer ring (3b). Approach the outer diameter surface of the end of the inner ring (3a) via a labyrinth gap. Note that contact-type seals may be used as the first seal member (3e) and the second seal member (3f).
[0015]
The disc spring (4) is a substantially conical steel plate press-molded product, and as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), a conical annular base portion (41) provided at the end (41) on the large diameter side. 4a), a plurality of notches (4b) formed at equal intervals in the end (40) on the small diameter side, and a plurality of tongue pieces formed between adjacent notches (4b) (4c). The tongue piece (4c) is formed to have a reduced diameter so as to have a cross-sectional curvature having a convex inner diameter side, and can be elastically deformed in the radial direction. Due to the elastic deformation of the tongue piece (4c), the small diameter end (40) of the disc spring (4) can be expanded and contracted.
[0016]
Each tongue (4c) of the disc spring (4) has a uniform thickness in the circumferential direction, and as shown in FIG. 3, the radius of the inscribed circle (1) and the radius of the circumscribed circle (2) The difference (S) is formed to be larger than the thickness (T) of the tongue piece (4c). At this time, the inner diameter surface (4c1) and the outer diameter surface (4c2) of each tongue piece (4c) are not located on the same circumference and are in a discontinuous state. The shape of the tongue piece (4c) is arbitrary as long as the difference (S) between the inscribed circle radius and the circumscribed circle radius is larger than the wall thickness (T), and as shown in FIGS. In addition to forming a wave shape with the convex side, for example, as shown in FIG. 4A, it may be formed in a wave shape with the outer diameter side concave, or as shown in FIG. It is also possible to form it.
[0017]
When assembling, the assembly of the ball bearing (3) and the disc spring (4) is extrapolated from the clutch side end to the outer periphery of the sleeve (1) in the same manner as the conventional product, and this is inserted into the ball bearing (3). A cylindrical jig (5: see FIG. 9) inserted into the annular space between the inner circumference of the inner ring (3a) and the outer circumference of the sleeve (1), the flange (3b1) of the outer ring (3b) is the side plate Push it in until it contacts the end face (2a) on the clutch side in (2). The disc spring (4) is elastically deformed in the axial direction by the pressing force of the jig (5), gets over the stopper (1a2) while reducing the inner diameter of the tongue (4c), and enters the engaging groove (1c). The tongue piece (4c) is engaged with the clutch-side wall surface of the engagement groove (1c) by the subsequent elastic return. At the same time, the large-diameter end (41: tip end of the annular base 4a) of the disc spring (4) presses against the outer ring collar (3b1) and elastically presses it toward the side plate (2).
[0018]
In the above pushing process, as shown in FIG. 6, the circumferential central portion of the tongue piece (4c) protrudes to the outer diameter side and engages with the tip surface (5a) of the jig (5). Compared with the product, the number of engagement points with the tip surface (5a) of the jig (5) increases, and the tongue (4c) of the disc spring (4) bites into the chamfered part (5b) of the jig (5). It becomes difficult. On the other hand, in the conventional product, as shown in FIG. 5, the inner diameter surface (4c1) and the outer diameter surface (4c2) of each tongue piece (4c) are on a common circumference, and the inscribed circle (1) Since the difference (S) between the radius and the radius of the circumscribed circle {circle around (2)} is equal to the wall thickness (T), there is no protruding portion on the outer diameter side as in the present invention, and therefore the chamfered portion (5b ).
[0019]
When the assembly of the ball bearing (3) and the disc spring (4) is thus extrapolated to the outer periphery of the sleeve (1), the clutch release bearing device (A) shown in FIG. 1 is completed. There is a radial clearance (S1) between the outer periphery of the sleeve (1) and the inner surface (3a) of the ball bearing (3), and the inner surface of the flange (3b1) of the outer ring (3b) There is a radial gap (S2) between the outer periphery of the sleeve (1). The radial gap (S2) is smaller than the radial gap (S1) (S2 <S1). The outer ring collar (3b1) is end-faced by the urging force of the disc spring (4) interposed between the sleeve (1) and the inner surface of the collar (3b1) of the outer ring (3b). (2a) is elastically pressed, and thereby the ball bearing (3) is elastically held slidably in the radial direction between the outer periphery of the sleeve (1) and the end face (2a) of the side plate (2). . The ball bearing (3) can be aligned in the radial direction with respect to the sleeve (1) and the side plate (2) due to the presence of the radial clearance (S1) (S2), and the amount of alignment movement is small. Regulated by radial clearance (S2) on the side.
[0020]
This clutch release bearing device (A) is incorporated between the engine and transmission of a manual mission vehicle. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the sleeve (1) (see FIG. 1 for each component of the clutch release bearing device) is provided on the outer periphery of the front cover (33) protruding from the transmission (32). The inner periphery is slidably inserted in the axial direction. A bifurcated release fork (34) abuts on the contact portion (2b) of the side plate (2), and when a clutch pedal (not shown) is depressed, the release fork (34) swings and the side plate (2) To the clutch device side, the sleeve (1) and the ball bearing (3) are moved in the axial direction along the front cover (33). And the inner ring collar part (3a1) of the ball bearing (3) abuts on the diaphragm spring (35) of the clutch device and presses and reverses it. Then, due to the elasticity of the diaphragm spring (35), the pressure plate (38) pressing the clutch disc (36) against the flywheel (37) is separated from the clutch disc, thereby releasing the clutch and the engine output shaft. The rotation of (39) is disconnected from the transmission (32). When the clutch pedal is released, the sleeve (1) and the ball bearing (3) return to their original positions together with the release fork (34) (or due to the elasticity of the diaphragm spring). Thus, the clutch is connected, and the rotation of the output shaft (39) of the engine is transmitted to the transmission (32) via the transmission shaft (40). The ball bearing (3) of the clutch release bearing device (A) can be aligned within a predetermined range with respect to the sleeve (1). Therefore, the shaft center of the front cover (33) and the shaft of the output shaft (39) Even if there is a mounting error between the center and the center of rotation of the diaphragm spring (35) and the center of rotation of the clutch release bearing device (A), the ball bearing (3) is displaced. Accordingly, the misalignment is automatically adjusted. In addition, the ball bearing (3) is aligned and moved by the required amount, and is elastically held in its position by the urging force of the disc spring (4), so that it does not shift even if it receives vibration, impact, etc. from the engine. Has so-called alignment resistance.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the disc spring can be reliably prevented from being caught in the jig inner diameter portion, so that the mounting operation of the disc spring can be facilitated and the assembly workability of the apparatus can be improved. In addition, the bearing device can be further downsized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a self-aligning clutch release bearing device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial front view (a diagram) of a disc spring according to the present invention, and a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ in FIG.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the disc spring.
FIG. 4 is a partial front view showing another embodiment of a disc spring.
FIG. 5 is a partial front view of a conventional disc spring.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a mounting state of a disc spring according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a peripheral portion of a clutch device of an automobile.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view (a view) and a front view (b view) of a conventional disc spring. It is sectional drawing which shows the mounting condition of the disk spring concerning this invention.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view (partially enlarged view) showing a disc spring assembling step.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a mounting state of a conventional disc spring.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Sleeve 2 Side plate 3 Ball bearing
3a Inner ring 3a1 Inner ring collar
3b Outer ring 3b1 Outer ring collar
3c Ball 4 Disc spring
40 Small diameter part
41 Large diameter part
4a Annular base
4c tongue
33 Front cover
34 Release Fork

Claims (4)

An inner ring in contact with the rotating member of the clutch device, an outer ring having an inwardly facing outer ring collar, a ball bearing having a plurality of balls interposed between the inner ring and the outer ring,
It has a side plate that extends to the outer diameter side, and can be slid in the axial direction on the front cover of the transmission by operation of the release fork. Sleeve,
It has a cylindrical shape with a small diameter part that engages with the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve and a large diameter part that presses against the outer ring collar part of the ball bearing, and the outer ring collar part is elastically pressed against the side plate of the sleeve to adjust the ball bearing. In the one having a disc spring that holds the heart
A clutch release bearing device in which a small diameter portion of the disc spring is shaped so that a difference between an inscribed circle radius and a circumscribed circle radius is larger than a thickness of the small diameter portion. The disc spring is composed of an annular base portion having the large-diameter portion on one end side, and a plurality of tongue pieces having a cross-sectional curvature reduced from the other end side of the annular base portion and having the small-diameter portion at a distal end portion. Item 2. The clutch release bearing device according to Item 1. An inner ring in contact with the rotating member of the clutch device, an outer ring having an inwardly facing outer ring collar, a ball bearing having a plurality of balls interposed between the inner ring and the outer ring,
It has a side plate that extends to the outer diameter side, and can be slid in the axial direction on the front cover of the transmission by operation of the release fork. A disc spring provided in a clutch release bearing device having a sleeve,
It has a cylindrical shape with a small diameter part that engages with the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve and a large diameter part that presses against the outer ring collar part of the ball bearing, and the outer ring collar part is elastically pressed against the side plate of the sleeve to adjust the ball bearing. In what is held in mind,
A disc spring for a clutch release bearing device, wherein the small diameter portion is shaped such that a difference between an inscribed circle radius and a circumscribed circle radius is larger than a thickness of the small diameter portion. The clutch according to claim 3, comprising: an annular base portion having the large-diameter portion on one end side; and a plurality of tongue pieces having a cross-sectional curvature reduced from the other end side of the annular base portion and having the small-diameter portion on the distal end portion. Disc spring for release bearing device.

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