JP4810758B2 - Alignment spring for clutch release bearing - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a spring for holding a clutch release bearing used for a manual transmission type automobile or the like in an alignable manner.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The clutch release bearing is attached to the end of a sleeve that moves in response to clutch operation. When the clutch is disengaged, the end of the movable wheel is pressed against the diaphragm spring of the clutch and pushes it in while rotating. In general, a deviation tends to occur between the rotation center of the diaphragm spring and the rotation center of the clutch release bearing. Therefore, the clutch release bearing is not directly fixed to the sleeve, but is indirectly attached by pressing the clutch release bearing with a centering disc spring mounted on the sleeve. Thus, the clutch release bearing is held so as to be movable to some extent in the radial direction with respect to the sleeve, and can be automatically aligned so as to eliminate the above-described deviation.
In the conventional hydraulic clutch breaker, the sleeve is mainly made of resin. As shown in FIG. 5, the aligning disc spring 100 has a shape in which a large number of semicircular recesses 100a are formed in the circumferential direction on the inner peripheral side. A groove for fitting the aligning disc spring 100 is provided in the vicinity of the end of the sleeve (not shown), and the aligning disc spring 100 is press-fitted into the groove. The inner diameter of the aligning plate 100 spring in the free state is slightly smaller than the diameter of the end of the sleeve.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The aligning plate 100 spring as described above has a short arm portion length L1 that contributes to elastic deformation at the time of press-fitting, and has a large total number. Therefore, a large load is required to bend all the arms, and the load is applied to the sleeve. Therefore, at the time of press-fitting, the inner peripheral end surface 100b of the aligning disc spring 100 strongly rubs the resin sleeve, so that the sleeve is shaved and scraped. If this shavings enters the clutch release bearing, the bearing performance is impaired. Further, when the sleeve is sharply cut and thinned, the aligning disc spring 100 is easily removed.
[0004]
In view of the above-described conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a self-aligning spring for a clutch release bearing that can be press-fitted without shaving a sleeve.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to an alignment for a clutch release bearing that is press-fitted into a groove provided on the outer peripheral side of a sleeve that is movable in the axial direction in accordance with clutch operation and holds the clutch release bearing supported by the sleeve in an alignable manner. A spring,
An annular portion as a base, and
A plurality of pieces are equally distributed in the same shape on the inner peripheral side integrally with the annular part, each of which is strip-like along the circumferential direction while projecting in the central axis direction starting from the inner peripheral side of the annular part And an elastic arm portion that is extended to
All the elastic arm portions extend only in one direction toward the same direction in the circumferential direction, and the respective distal end portions of the elastic arm portions are free ends that can be freely displaced, and the elastic arm portions The portion extending in the form of a strip has a surface that forms an arc shape along the circumferential direction as a contact surface to the outer periphery of the sleeve (claim 1).
In the clutch release bearing aligning spring configured as described above, a sufficiently long arm length in the circumferential direction can be secured in the elastic arm portion, so that the elastic arm portion is adjusted with a relatively small load. The core spring can be elastically deformed in the radial direction and the central axis direction. Therefore, the elastic arm portion is elastically deformed with a relatively small load when press-fitted into the sleeve, and has a strip-like shape along the circumferential direction, so that the aggressiveness against the sleeve is low.
[0006]
Further, in the above-described alignment spring for clutch release bearing (Claim 1), the end portion of the elastic arm portion protruding in the central axis direction may be bent outward in the radial direction of the annular portion. (Claim 2).
In this case, there is a minimum bending radius by bending at the inner peripheral side corner of the elastic arm portion, and this serves to further alleviate the aggressiveness to the sleeve during press-fitting.
[0007]
In the aligning spring for clutch release bearing (Claim 2), it is preferable that the dimension of the bending allowance by bending is larger than the plate thickness of the elastic arm part (Claim 3).
In this case, after press-fitting, the area where the elastic arm portion comes into contact with the sleeve is ensured to the maximum, and an effect of stably holding the aligning spring on the sleeve is obtained.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a hydraulic clutch breaker using a centering spring for a clutch release bearing according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this hydraulic clutch breaker, a transmission shaft 1 that transmits power from the engine to the transmission passes through a cylindrical portion 2 that is a part of the housing of the hydraulic clutch breaker. The resin sleeve 3 is a piston in a hydraulic cylinder (not shown), and is slidably attached to the cylindrical portion 2. A flange-like plate member 4 is insert-molded in the sleeve 3, and both move together in the axial direction. The plate member 4 is a spring receiver for the compression spring 5, and is thereby biased to the left in the figure. A bellows-like boot 6 is attached to the outer peripheral side of the plate member 4.
[0009]
On the other hand, the clutch release bearing 7 is fitted to the bearing holding member 8 on the outer ring 7a side. The bearing holding member 8 is in contact with the plate member 4 but is not fixed. The inner ring 7b protruding leftward in the axial direction is in contact with a diaphragm spring 9 of the clutch. On the outer peripheral side of the left end portion of the sleeve 3, a groove 3a and a locking portion 3b are formed on the left side of the entire circumference, and the alignment spring 10 is compressed in the axial direction in the groove 3a. It is installed. The aligning spring 10 presses the inner peripheral portion of the bearing holding member 8 between the plate member 4. Thereby, although the bearing holding member 8 and the clutch release bearing 7 are held by the plate member 4, they are not fixed in the radial direction and can be moved within a predetermined range.
[0010]
2A and 2B are a plan view and a side view of the aligning spring 10, respectively. In the figure, the aligning spring 10 includes an annular portion 10a serving as a base, and a plurality of elastic arm portions 10b that are integral with the annular portion 10a and are equally arranged on the inner peripheral side. Each of the elastic arm portions 10b extends in a strip shape along the circumferential direction while projecting in the central axis direction starting from the inner peripheral side of the annular portion 10a. With such a configuration, the elastic arm portion 10 b can be elastically deformed in the radial direction and the central axis direction of the aligning spring 10. In particular, it is possible to cause elastic deformation with a relatively small load by ensuring that the elastic arm portion 10b has a sufficiently long arm length L in the circumferential direction as compared with a conventional disc spring.
The inner diameter of the aligning spring 10 in a free state is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the locking portion 3b (FIG. 1) of the sleeve 3, and the length (width) in the central axis direction is the groove 3a of the sleeve 3. Slightly larger than the width.
[0011]
The centering spring 10 is mounted in the groove 3a in a state where the elastic arm portion 10b is elastically deformed radially outward and passes through the locking portion 3b and is slightly compressed in the central axis direction when being pressed into the sleeve 3. Is done. As described above, the elastic arm portion 10b is elastically deformed with a relatively small load, and has a strip-like shape along the circumferential direction. Therefore, when the elastic arm portion 10b passes through the locking portion 3b, it strongly attacks the elastic arm portion 10b. Never do. Therefore, the aligning spring 10 can be press-fitted into the sleeve 3 without cutting the locking portion 3b.
[0012]
The hydraulic clutch disconnection device shown in FIG. 1 is in a connected state in the illustrated state. When a clutch pedal (not shown) is depressed, the sleeve 3 receives hydraulic pressure and moves to the left in the axial direction from the illustrated position. As a result, the clutch release bearing 7 also moves, the diaphragm spring 9 is pushed in by the inner ring 7b, and the clutch is disconnected. Note that if there is a deviation between the rotation center of the clutch release bearing 7 and the rotation center of the diaphragm spring 9, the slip ratio between the two will increase and cause abnormal wear, but as described above, the clutch release. Since the bearing 7 is movable in the radial direction, it can align itself so as to coincide with the rotation center of the diaphragm spring 9.
[0013]
FIGS. 3A and 3B are a plan view and a side view, respectively, of the aligning spring for the clutch release bearing according to the second embodiment. In the figure, like the aligning spring 10 in the first embodiment, the aligning spring 11 has a ring portion 11a serving as a base portion, and a plurality of the same shape on the inner peripheral side integrally with the ring portion 11a. And an elastic arm portion 11b. Each of the elastic arm portions 11b extends in a strip shape along the circumferential direction while projecting in the central axis direction starting from the inner peripheral side of the annular portion 11a. The difference from the aligning spring 10 in the first embodiment is that the end of the portion protruding in the central axis direction of the elastic arm portion 11b is bent outward in the radial direction of the annular portion 11a. . Further, the bending allowance W due to the bending is larger than the plate thickness of the elastic arm portion 11b.
[0014]
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the alignment spring 11 mounted in the groove 3a. By bending as described above, there is a minimum bending radius by bending at the inner peripheral side corner portion 11c of the aligning spring 11, and this serves to further alleviate the aggressiveness against the locking portion 3b during press-fitting. . Further, due to the presence of a bending margin larger than the plate thickness of the elastic arm portion 11b, the elastic arm portion 11b contacts the entire right end surface of the locking portion 3b. This has the effect that the contact area is ensured to the maximum and the alignment spring 11 is stably held in the groove 3a as compared with the case where the contact is made only with the plate thickness of the elastic arm portion 11b. Therefore, the aligning spring 11 is not easily detached from the groove 3a.
[0015]
In the above embodiments, the sleeve 3 is made of resin. However, the invention is not limited to the case of resin. For example, even in the case of a relatively soft metal, by using the aligning springs 10 and 11 as described above, It is possible to prevent the sleeve from being scraped during press-fitting.
[0016]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention configured as described above has the following effects.
According to the aligning spring for the clutch release bearing of the first aspect, since the arm length sufficiently long in the circumferential direction can be secured in the elastic arm portion, the elastic arm portion is aligned with a relatively small load. It can be elastically deformed in the radial direction and central axis direction of the spring. Therefore, the elastic arm portion is elastically deformed with a relatively small load when press-fitted into the sleeve, and has a strip-like shape along the circumferential direction, so that the aggressiveness against the sleeve is low. For this reason, the aligning spring can be pressed into the sleeve without cutting the sleeve.
[0017]
According to the aligning spring for the clutch release bearing according to claim 2, there is a minimum bending radius by bending at the inner peripheral side corner portion of the elastic arm portion, which further alleviates the aggressiveness to the sleeve during press-fitting. To play a role. Therefore, the aligning spring can be press-fitted into the sleeve more reliably without cutting the sleeve.
[0018]
According to the aligning spring for the clutch release bearing of claim 3, the area where the elastic arm portion comes into contact with the sleeve is ensured to the maximum after press-fitting, and the effect of stably holding the aligning spring on the sleeve is obtained. It is done. Therefore, the aligning spring is difficult to come off from the groove of the sleeve.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a hydraulic clutch breaker using a centering spring for a clutch release bearing according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are a plan view and a side view of a centering spring used in the hydraulic clutch disconnection device of FIG.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are a plan view and a side view of a centering spring for a clutch release bearing according to a second embodiment. FIGS.
4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the aligning spring shown in FIG. 3 is mounted in a groove of a sleeve of the hydraulic clutch disconnection device.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a conventional aligning disc spring for a clutch release bearing.
[Explanation of symbols]
3 Sleeve 3a Groove 7 Clutch release bearing 10 Alignment spring 10a Annular part 10b Elastic arm part 11 Alignment spring 11a Annular part 11b Elastic arm part

Claims (3)

A clutch release bearing aligning spring that is press-fitted into a groove provided on the outer peripheral side of a sleeve movable in the axial direction according to clutch operation and holds the clutch release bearing supported by the sleeve in an alignable manner. ,
An annular portion as a base, and
A plurality of pieces are equally distributed in the same shape on the inner peripheral side integrally with the annular part, each of which is strip-like along the circumferential direction while projecting in the central axis direction starting from the inner peripheral side of the annular part And an elastic arm portion that is extended to
All the elastic arm portions extend only in one direction toward the same direction in the circumferential direction, and the distal end side of each elastic arm portion is a free end that is free to be displaced ,
A clutch release bearing characterized in that a portion of the elastic arm portion extending in the shape of a strip has a surface that forms an arc shape along a circumferential direction as a contact surface to the outer periphery of the sleeve. Alignment spring.   The aligning spring for clutch release bearing according to claim 1, wherein an end portion of the elastic arm portion protruding in the central axis direction is bent outward in the radial direction of the annular portion.   The centering spring for a clutch release bearing according to claim 2, wherein a dimension of a bending allowance by the bending is larger than a plate thickness of the elastic arm portion.

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