JP4818656B2 - Automatic clutch wear adjustment mechanism - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a clutch wear automatic adjustment mechanism suitable for a mechanical automatic transmission.

  A clutch is incorporated between the flywheel that rotates directly connected to the engine and the transmission.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of a clutch. The clutch facing 1 is mounted on both sides of the peripheral portion and the clutch plate 3 is opposed to the end surface of the flywheel 2 on one side, and the other side of the clutch plate 3 is shown. A pressure plate 4 facing the clutch facing 1, a diaphragm spring 5 for urging the pressure plate 4 toward the flywheel 2, a pressure plate 4 that supports the flywheel 2 so as to be close to and away from the flywheel 2, and pivots the diaphragm spring 5 The clutch cover 7 pivotally supported by the wire 6, the clutch shaft 8 penetrating through the central portion of these members, and abutting near the center of the diaphragm spring 5 from the opposite direction to the flywheel 2 and moving to the clutch shaft 8 in the axial direction Possible release bearing 9 and longitudinal A release fork 10 that is pivotally supported in the middle and whose front end is in contact with the end face of the release bearing 9 from the opposite direction to the flywheel 2, and the base end portion of the release fork 10 faces away from the flywheel 2. A return spring 11 and a rod advance / retreat type actuator 12 for energizing the actuator (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

  The clutch plate 3 slides along the spline of the clutch shaft 8, and the release bearing 9 slides along the main drive cover 21.

  The flywheel 2, the clutch plate 3, the clutch cover 7, the release bearing 9 and the like are housed in the clutch housing 13.

  Normally, that is, when the actuator 12 is not operated, the pressure plate 4 biased toward the flywheel 2 by the diaphragm spring 5 and the end surface of the flywheel 2 sandwich the clutch facing 1 attached to the clutch plate 3. The engine is brought into a contact state in which the rotation of the engine is transmitted to the transmission via the clutch shaft 8.

  When the actuator 12 is operated so that the push rod 14 protrudes and the base end portion of the release fork 10 is urged toward the side opposite to the flywheel 2, the tip portion of the release fork 10 follows the tilt of the release fork 10 and the release fork 10 is tilted. 9 is pressed to the flywheel 2 side, and the vicinity of the center of the diaphragm spring 5 approaches the flywheel 2 side with the pivot wire 6 as a fulcrum, and the peripheral portion of the diaphragm spring 5 moves away from the flywheel 2.

  As a result, the clutch facing 1 cannot be brought into pressure contact with the end face of the flywheel 2 and the engine rotation is not transmitted to the transmission.

  Further, the urging force of the return spring 11 keeps the tip portion of the release fork 10 in contact with the end surface of the release bearing 9 regardless of whether the actuator 12 is operating.

  When the thickness of the clutch facing 1 decreases due to wear, the peripheral edge of the diaphragm spring 5 approaches the flywheel 2 side, and the vicinity of the center of the diaphragm spring 5 moves away from the flywheel 2 so that the clutch facing 1 is new. In comparison, the fixed position of the release bearing 9 also tends to move away from the flywheel 2, and as a result, a gap is formed between the distal end surface of the push rod 14 and the proximal end portion of the release fork 10 when the actuator 12 is not operated. .

  Since this gap expands as the thickness of the clutch facing 1 decreases, the normal position of the push rod 14 of the actuator 12 is corrected at the appropriate time, and the gap between the end face of the release fork 10 and the push rod 14 is filled to eliminate the gap. Make adjustments.

Separately, an automatic adjustment mechanism including an outer cylinder supported by a stationary member and an inner shaft capable of relative displacement in the axial direction is interposed between a negative pressure actuator and a clutch lever corresponding to a release fork. An automatic wear adjustment device that can cope with a decrease in the thickness of the clutch facing has already been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Microfilm of Japanese Utility Model No. 54-135305 (Japanese Utility Model Application No. 56-54327) GP Planning Center What is the mechanism of automobiles? Engines Grand Prix Publishing Co., Ltd. Issued February 15, 2003, 15th edition p. 195-196

  In recent years, instead of manual transmissions where the driver himself performs clutch operation and shift operation, a mechanical automatic transmission equipped with an actuator that engages and disengages the clutch and an actuator for shifting the gear position has been adopted in the power transmission system, and the effort of the driver However, in the clutch incorporated in the mechanical automatic transmission, the distance between the base end portion of the release fork 10 and the front end surface of the push rod 14 is affected by the wear of the clutch facing 1. If it is not constant (if possible, the gap should be eliminated), the optimal clutch connection / disconnection in accordance with the command signal cannot be performed.

  Moreover, in the thing of patent document 1, the distance of a negative pressure type actuator and a clutch lever will become long by the part which an automatic adjustment mechanism interposes.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an automatic clutch wear adjustment mechanism in which a distance between an actuator and a release fork is short.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a first sensor for detecting that a tip end surface of a push rod of a clutch connecting / disconnecting actuator is in contact with a release fork pressure receiving portion, and a second sensor for measuring a stroke of the actuator. It has a sensor and a control unit, and when the ignition switch is turned on, the actuator is operated so that the push rod protrudes, and the standby position where the clutch is kept in contact is determined based on the signals from both sensors. The control unit is provided with a function and a function of operating the actuator and returning the push rod to the standby position after executing the function and the clutch connecting / disconnecting operation.

  The first sensor is preferably a pressing force detecting means, and the clutch connecting / disconnecting actuator is preferably an electric drive type.

  In other words, when the ignition switch is turned on, the standby position where the clutch remains in contact even if the tip surface of the push rod of the actuator comes into contact with the release fork pressure receiving portion is determined. Executes disconnect / connect operation

  According to the clutch wear automatic adjustment mechanism of the present invention, the following excellent effects can be obtained.

  (1) When the ignition switch is turned on, the control unit determines the standby position of the push rod according to the decrease in the thickness of the worn parts, so that the distance between the actuator and the release fork can be shortened, and thus the mechanical transmission It is possible to reduce the size of accessory equipment.

  (2) If the first sensor is a pressing force detection means, it is ensured that the push rod and the release fork are in contact with each other even when dust adheres to the tip surface of the push rod or the release fork pressure receiving portion. Can be detected.

  (3) If the actuator is electrically driven, it is possible to accurately determine the push rod standby position and return the push rod to the standby position after the clutch is engaged / disengaged.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 and 2 show an example of the clutch wear automatic adjustment mechanism of the present invention. In the drawing, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 3 denote the same parts.

  This automatic clutch wear adjustment mechanism includes a first sensor 17 that detects that the front end surface of the push rod 16 of the electrically driven actuator 15 is in contact with the front end portion of the release fork 10, and the stroke of the actuator 15 (push rod). 16 position) and a control unit 19.

  The actuator 15 has a structure that converts the rotation of the motor 20 into a linear reciprocating motion by a combination of a screw shaft and a nut, and is accompanied by a second sensor 18.

  The first sensor 17 is attached to the distal end portion of the release fork 10 and detects a load applied when the distal end surface of the push rod 16 comes into contact as a pressing force.

The control unit 19 is
a) A command signal is transmitted to the motor 20 of the actuator 15 so that the push rod 16 protrudes when the ignition switch is turned on, and the pressure signal received from the first sensor 17 and the second sensor 18 are received. A function of determining the standby position of the push rod 16 based on the stroke signal (corresponding to steps S1 to S5 in FIG. 2);
b) A function of transmitting a command signal to the motor 20 of the actuator 15 after the clutch connecting / disconnecting operation is performed, and returning the push rod 16 to the standby position based on the stroke signal received from the second sensor 18 (FIG. 2). Equivalent to steps S6 to S8, S5)
It has.

  When the ignition switch is turned on at the start of operation of the vehicle, the standby position where the clutch remains in contact even when the front end surface of the push rod 16 of the actuator 15 contacts the front end portion of the release fork 10 corresponds to the wear of the clutch facing 1. If the ignition switch is not turned off after this, the actuator 15 performs the optimum clutch connecting / disconnecting operation with reference to the standby position, so that the position of the push rod 16 follows the reversal of the clutch facing 1. Thus, the distance between the actuator 15 and the release fork 10 can be shortened, and the incidental device of the mechanical transmission can be downsized.

  Further, since the first sensor 17 detects the pressing force, the push rod 16 and the release fork 10 contact each other even when dust or the like adheres to the tip surface of the push rod 16 or the tip of the release fork 10. Can be detected reliably.

  Further, since the actuator 15 is electrically driven, it is possible to accurately determine the standby position of the push rod 16 and return the push rod 16 to the standby position.

  It should be noted that the clutch wear automatic adjustment mechanism of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  The clutch wear automatic adjustment mechanism of the present invention can be applied to various vehicle types.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the clutch wear automatic adjustment mechanism of this invention. It is a flowchart of the control unit in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of a clutch.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Release fork 15 Actuator 16 Push rod 17 1st sensor 18 2nd sensor 19 Control unit

Claims (3)

  A first sensor for detecting that the front end surface of the push rod of the clutch connecting / disconnecting actuator is in contact with the release fork pressure receiving portion, a second sensor for measuring the stroke of the actuator, and a control unit, When the ignition switch was turned on, the actuator was operated so that the push rod protruded, and the standby position where the clutch was kept engaged was determined based on the signals from both sensors, and the clutch was engaged / disengaged. A clutch wear automatic adjustment mechanism characterized in that the control unit is provided with a function of operating the actuator and returning the push rod to the standby position.   The clutch wear automatic adjustment mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor is a pressing force detecting means.   The clutch wear automatic adjustment mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the clutch connecting / disconnecting actuator is an electric drive type.

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