JP4850653B2 - Two-way clutch - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a bidirectional clutch in which the rotational force from the input member side is transmitted to the output member side, and the rotational force from the output member side is not transmitted to the input member side.

A bidirectional clutch in which a bidirectional driving force from the input side which is the driving side is transmitted to the output side which is the driven side and a rotational force from the output side is not transmitted to the input side has already been proposed. For example, as an example of a bidirectional clutch in which a bidirectional driving force from the input side is transmitted to the output side and an external force from the output side is not transmitted to the input side, a rotational force is applied to the driven member serving as the output member. A bidirectional clutch is proposed that has a mechanism that locks the driven member, and the driven member cannot be rotated by the locking, and the rotational force from the output side is not transmitted to the input side (see, for example, Patent Document 1). It has also been put into practical use. However, this two-way clutch is a structure that combines multiple cam members, clutch teeth, two coil springs, etc., so it is relatively complex and requires a lot of time to assemble and sufficiently reduces cost and size. There is a problem that it can not be done.
JP 2000-199532 A

  The present invention aims to solve the above-described conventional problems, and a simple structure in which the rotational force applied to the input member is transmitted to the output member and the rotational force applied to the output member is not transmitted to the input member. The present invention provides a bidirectional clutch that is small in size and low in cost and operates smoothly and does not generate abnormal noise.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes an input member, an output member, an intermediate member, a spring member that gives elastic force to the intermediate member, and a housing member that houses these members, and a rotational driving force from the input member. Is transmitted to the output member, and in the bidirectional clutch in which the rotational force from the output member is not transmitted to the input member, the housing member has a cylindrical inner wall surface, and the input member has an input shaft portion and the input shaft. An output engagement portion that is positioned at one end of the shaft portion, and the output member is positioned at one end side of the output shaft portion and the output shaft portion and engages with the input engagement portion The input engagement portion has a plurality of input engagement pieces at regular intervals, the output engagement portion has one or more output engagement pieces at regular intervals, and the input engagement pieces And the output engagement pieces are respectively side wall surfaces so as to engage with each other. The intermediate member is provided between the input engaging pieces adjacent to each other and facing each other and between the front end surface of the output engaging piece and the cylindrical inner wall surface of the housing member. When the input engagement piece comes into contact with the intermediate member , the input engagement piece applies a pressing force having a vector inward with respect to the rotation direction of the input member and having a vector in the direction of the center point of the intermediate member. Inclining contact surfaces that incline so as to be applied to the members are provided at the front end sides of the side wall surfaces on both sides of the input engagement piece, and when the input member rotates , the side wall surfaces of the input member are the output members. There is provided a bidirectional clutch characterized in that the side wall surface of the joint piece is pressed and the inclined contact surface presses the intermediate member to substantially the center of the tip end surface of the output engagement piece .

According to the present invention , for example, the driving force is transmitted from the input member side which is the driving side to the output member side which is the driven side, but the rotational force applied to the output member side is not transmitted to the input member side. An economical two-way clutch can be provided. In particular, since the first engagement piece has a side surface that becomes an acute angle or an obtuse angle with respect to the rotation direction of the input member, the both clutches operate smoothly without generating abnormal noise. Further, since the input member and the output member are not fastened to each other by fitting or the like, the input member and the output member can be handled separately, and can be easily incorporated into the housing.

[Embodiment 1]
A bidirectional clutch according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a view showing the appearance of the bidirectional clutch, FIG. 2 is a view showing a housing member of the bidirectional clutch, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the input member, and FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the input member. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a part of the input member and its related parts, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the output member, FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the output member, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a view showing an outline of the spring member, FIG. 10 is a view for explaining the relationship between the intermediate member and the spring member, and FIGS. 11 and 12 are views for explaining the structure of the spring member. FIGS. 13 to 15 are diagrams for explaining the operation of the bidirectional clutch.

  This bidirectional clutch mainly comprises a combination of a housing 1, an input member 3, an output member 5, an intermediate member 7 such as a roller or a ball, and a spring member 9. The housing 1 includes a housing member 11 and a lid portion 12 combined therewith. The housing member 11 includes a cylindrical portion 14 having a cylindrical inner wall surface 13 and a side wall portion 15 that functions as a bottom portion that closes one end of the cylindrical portion 14. The side wall portion 15 has a through hole 16 at the center and a short cylindrical lead-out portion 17 surrounding the through hole 16. The lead-out portion 17 is provided with an oil-impregnated metal in which oil is impregnated into the sintered metal as necessary, or a rotation promoting member such as a small ball bearing or roller bearing. The housing 1 is made of various metal materials, engineering plastic materials, or the like, and there is no need to limit the materials.

  Next, the input member 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4A, 4B, and 4C. 4A is a top view of the input member 3 of FIG. 3 viewed from above, FIG. 4B is a view of the input member 3 viewed from the side, and FIG. 4C is the input member 3 of FIG. It is the bottom view which looked at from the bottom. A columnar input shaft portion 31 that is inserted through the through hole 16 of the side wall portion 15 of the housing 1 and has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the through hole is integrally formed below the regular pentagonal input common portion 32. It is fitted or press-fitted into the coupling portion 32A formed in the above. An input engaging portion 33 is formed integrally with the input common portion 32 on the opposite side of the input common portion 32 from the input shaft portion 31. The input engagement portion 33 includes five input engagement pieces 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 that extend from the corners of the input common portion 32 at equal intervals in the extension direction and the outward direction of the input shaft portion 31. Since the five input engagement pieces 34 to 38 have the same shape and the same size, only the input engagement piece 34 will be described in the following description regarding the input engagement pieces 34 to 38, and other input engagements will be described. The description of the pieces 35 to 38 is omitted, but the description of the input engagement piece 34 is applicable. Further, the input engaging pieces 34 to 38 are arranged so that the gaps between adjacent ones are almost the same.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 (A) to 4 (C), one surface of the input engagement piece 34 is provided with a spring locking portion 34a for attaching a first spring member 9 described later. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 4C, the other surface of the input engagement piece 34 is provided with a spring locking portion 34b for attaching a second spring member 9 described later. The spring locking portion 34a and the spring locking portion 34b are formed at positions facing each other, and a spring member described later can be locked to either the spring locking portion 34a or the spring locking portion 34b. Yes. The spring locking portion 34a and the spring locking portion 34b are small holes having a predetermined depth and diameter. The input engagement piece 34 has a recess 34c serving as a lubricant reservoir in which a lubricant such as grease is accommodated on the outer wall surface A facing the cylindrical inner wall surface 13 of the housing member 11 shown in FIG. .

  In particular, an important component of the first embodiment is that the front end sides of the side wall surfaces on both sides of the input engagement piece 34 are inclined contact surfaces 34G. As shown in an enlarged view of the input engagement pieces 34 and 38 in FIG. 5, the input engagement piece 34 includes inclined contact surfaces 34 </ b> G having a predetermined angle with respect to the rotation direction of the input member 3 on both side wall surfaces. The inclined contact surface 34G is characterized in that a pressing force having a vector in the inner direction, for example, the direction of the center point O side of the intermediate member 7 is applied when the inclined contact surface 34G contacts the intermediate member 9 such as a roller indicated by a broken line. That is, the input engagement piece 34 has an inclined contact surface 38G that is inclined inward or outward with respect to the rotation direction of the input member 3, and the inclined contact surface 38G is rotated when the input member 3 rotates. A pressing force directed inward or outward with respect to the rotation direction of the input member 3 is applied to the intermediate member 9. The other input engagement pieces 35 to 38 are also the same as the input engagement piece 34, and have inclined contact surfaces similar to the inclined contact surfaces 34G on both side wall surfaces, and springs on one surface and the other surface. It has a locking part. The inclined contact surface 34G will be described in detail later.

  Here, the diameter of the imaginary circle formed by the five wall surfaces A of the input engagement pieces 34 to 38 is set so that the input member 3 stably rotates in the housing 1. It is preferably slightly smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical inner wall surface 13. Further, the maximum diameter of the regular pentagonal input common portion 32 is the cylindrical inner wall surface of the cylindrical portion 14 in the housing member 11 so that the input common portion 32 can also rotate in the housing 1 without any problem. Smaller than 13 diameters. The input common portion 32 and the press-fitting portion 32A have an elliptical center hole 32W into which the input shaft portion 31 is press-fitted. Of course, the shape of the input common part 32 is not limited to a regular pentagon, and may be a circle or the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 6, 7 </ b> A, and 7 </ b> B, the output member 5 includes a cylindrical output shaft portion 51 having a diameter through which a through hole (not shown) of the lid portion 12 (FIG. 1) is inserted and an output. An engagement portion 52 is provided. Here, FIG. 7A is a view of the output member 5 viewed from the side, and FIG. 7B is a view of FIG. 7A viewed from the left. The output engagement part 52 has five output engagement pieces 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 extending from the output common part 52A at equal intervals in the radial outward direction. At the center of the output engagement portion 52, a central hole 52W into which the press-fit portion 51A of the output shaft portion 51 is press-fitted is provided. When the input member 3 and the output member 5 are assembled in the housing 1, the output engagement pieces 53 to 57 alternately enter the input engagement pieces 34 to 38 of the input engagement portion 33 at a certain interval. The width (size in the rotational direction) of the output engagement pieces 53 to 57 is smaller than the interval between the input engagement pieces 34 to 38.

  Since the five output engagement pieces 53 to 57 have the same shape and the same size, only the output engagement piece 53 will be described in the following description related to the output engagement pieces 53 to 57, and other output The description of the combined pieces 54 to 57 is omitted, but the description of the output engagement piece 53 is applicable. The front end surface 53a of the output engagement piece 53 is gently curved, V-shaped, or flat, and as shown by a broken line in FIG. 7B, a bearing surface that supports the intermediate member 7 such as a roller. Form. The width (length in the rotational direction) of the output engagement piece 53 is larger than the diameter of the intermediate member 7.

  Next, a state where the input member 3 and the output member 5 as described above are incorporated into the housing 1 will be described. FIG. 8A shows a state in which the input member 3 and the output member 5 are assembled in the housing 1, and FIG. 8B further shows an intermediate member 7 which is a roller and has an output shaft 51 attached to the output member 5. And a spring member 9 as shown in FIG. 9 is incorporated. The spring member 9 will be described in detail later. In FIG. 8, the input shaft portion 31 of the input member 3 is not shown because it extends perpendicularly to the back direction of the paper. The input member 3 is assembled so that the central axis Z1 (FIG. 4) of the input member 3 and the central axis Z2 (FIG. 7) of the output member 5 substantially coincide.

  Five output engagement pieces 53, 54, 55, 56 and 57 are inserted between the five input engagement pieces 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38. In a state where there is a gap between the side wall located in the rotation direction of the input engagement pieces 34 to 38 and the side wall located in the rotation direction of the output engagement pieces 53 to 57, no rotational force is applied to the input member 3. Since the spring member 9 pushes the intermediate member 7 from both sides, the respective output engagement pieces 53 to 57 are positioned substantially in the middle between the input engagement pieces 34 to 38. The spring member 9 is an integral spring and is locked to the input engagement pieces 34 to 38 by spring locking portions 34 a to 38 a formed on the input engagement pieces 34 to 38. The same applies to the back side, and a second spring member (not shown) is locked by spring locking portions 34b to 38b formed on the back side of the respective input engagement pieces 34 to 38 shown in FIG. Yes.

  The relationship between the intermediate member 7 such as a roller and the spring member 9 will be described with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 shows the roller member 7 positioned between the input engagement pieces 34 and 38 and the first and second spring members 9A. 9B is an explanatory view of a part including the input engagement pieces 34 and 38 as viewed from the side. Both end portions of the roller member 7 protrude from the input engaging pieces 34 and 38 and the output engaging piece 53 on which the roller member 7 is supported, and the protruding portions 7A and 7B at both ends thereof are the first of the same structure. The spring pieces of the spring member 9A and the second spring member 9B are gripped. In other words, the roller member 7 has a length larger than the width of the input engagement pieces 34 and 38 and the output engagement piece 53 (the length in the direction of the central axes Z1 and Z2). 38 and the output engagement piece 53, and the first spring member 9A and the second spring member 9B are elastically gripped by the first spring member 9A and the second spring member 9B, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, each roller member 7 is held by the spring member 9A and the spring member 9B on the back side of the paper in the approximate center of the gap between the adjacent input engagement pieces 34-38. The In the state of FIG. 8B, each roller member 7 is in light contact with the cylindrical inner wall surface 13 (FIG. 2) of the cylindrical portion 14 of the housing member 11 or there is a slight gap. It can be easily inserted and removed from the cylindrical portion 14. Although the operation of this bidirectional clutch will be described later, when the input member 3 rotates, the roller member 7 also rotates in the cylindrical portion 14 of the housing member 11 together with the output member 5 with a small frictional resistance.

  Next, an example of the spring member 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 11 shows the shape of a metal spring body 90 formed by pressing and punching a metal plate having a relatively high elastic force and then bending it into a predetermined shape. FIG. 12 shows a resin spring locking member 91 combined with the metal spring body 90. The spring member 9 shown in FIG. 9 is a combination of the metal spring body 90 and the spring locking member 91. is there. As shown in FIG. 11, an example of the metal spring body 90 includes an annular portion 90A and five metal pieces 90B extending radially outward from the annular portion 90A at equal intervals. Since the five metal pieces 90B all have the same structure, only one will be described. The metal piece 90B includes a first portion 90B1 extending from the annular portion 90A, a second portion 90B2 extending from the first portion 90B1, and a third portion 90B3. The second portion 90B2 and the third portion 90B3 are bent by 90 degrees in the front or back direction of the paper with respect to the first portion 90B1. The second portion 90B2 and the third portion 90B3 are bent at an angle in the opposite direction in the middle, and serve to impart elastic force to the roller member. Therefore, the second portion 90B2 and the third portion 90B3 will be hereinafter described. Called a spring piece. The spring piece 90B2 and the spring piece 90B3 extending from the adjacent metal piece 90B apply pressure to the intermediate member 7 from both sides. The illustrated shape and bending method of the metal spring body 90 are merely examples, and are not limited to these specific examples.

  Next, a spring locking member 91 that constitutes the spring member 9 in combination with the metal spring body 90 will be described with reference to FIG. 12A is a top view of the spring locking member 91 as viewed from above, FIG. 12B is a side view thereof, and FIG. 12C is a bottom view of the spring locking member 91 as viewed from below. It is. The spring locking member 91 is made of a resilient synthetic rubber material or synthetic resin material, or a metal material such as aluminum, and is formed with five locking portions formed at substantially equal intervals on the annular portion 91A and the annular portion 91A. Part 91B. The annular portion 91 </ b> A has a width that is somewhat wider than the radial width of the annular portion 90 </ b> A of the metal spring body 90. The five locking portions 91B all have the same structure, and each locking portion 91B has a first portion 91B1 projecting radially outward from the annular portion 91A and one surface of the tip portion of the first portion 91B1. A short pin-shaped second portion 91B2 extending at a right angle from the right side, that is, a right angle to the paper surface, and an incision 91C cut from the outside to the inside at the annular portions 91A on both sides of the first portion 91B1 , And a cut 91D. The cuts 91C and 91D increase the elasticity of the first portion 91B1, and are not necessarily required.

  The short pin-shaped second portions 91B2 of the five locking portions 91B are provided with spring locking portions 34a, 35a, 36a of the input engagement pieces 34 to 38 in the input portion shown in FIGS. 37a and 38a and the spring engaging portions 34b, 35b, 36b, 37b, and 38b shown in FIG. 4C. Therefore, the diameter of a virtual circle connecting the spring engaging portions 34a to 38a and the spring engaging portions 34b to 38b of the input engaging pieces 34 to 38, and the short pin-shaped second portions 91B2 of the five engaging portions 91B. Must be equal to the diameter of the virtual circle connecting The spring locking member 91 is deformed according to the shape of the metal spring body 90, and is not limited to the illustrated specific example.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the metal spring body 90 and the spring locking member 91 are combined. The short pin-shaped second portions 91B2 of the spring locking members 91 are respectively inserted between the second portion 90B2 and the third portion 90B3 in the vicinity of the first portion 90B1 of the metal spring body 90. The metal spring body 90 and the spring locking member 91 are locked with each other. That is, each short pin-shaped second portion 91B2 of the spring locking member 91 is sandwiched between the second portion 90B2 and the third portion 90B3 of the metal spring body 90, so that the metal spring body 90 and It is not easily detached from the spring locking member 91 and can be handled as a single spring member 9. Further, the short pin-shaped second portion 91B2 of the spring locking member 91 includes a tip portion of the second portion 90B2 and a tip portion of the third portion 90B3 of the adjacent metal piece 90B of the metal spring body 90. This is effective in this aspect because it works to narrow the gap and enhances the spring property of the metal spring body 90 even if there is a variation such as bending.

  In order to lock the spring member 9 to the end face of the input engaging portion 32, the short pin-shaped second portion 91B2 of the spring locking member 91 is input to the input portion shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A. What is necessary is just to make it latch to each of the spring latching | locking part 34a-38a of the engagement pieces 34-38, and the spring latching | locking part 34b-38b shown in FIG.4 (C). The spring engaging portions 34a to 38a and 34b to 38b are small holes having a diameter and a depth suitable for fitting the short pin-shaped second portion 91B2, and the short pin-shaped second portion 91B2 is formed respectively. What is necessary is just to be able to insert in, that is, it should just lock together, and a shape is not restrict | limited. As shown in FIG. 13, the tip portions of the spring pieces 90B2 and 90B3 of the spring member 9 are gripped by an elastic force so as to sandwich the intermediate member 7 therebetween. At this time, as described with reference to FIG. 10, when the intermediate member 7 is a roller, the intermediate member 7 is held at both ends by the pair of spring members 9. Accordingly, each intermediate member 7 is held at a substantially intermediate position in the gap between the adjacent input engagement pieces 34 to 38. In this state, the input member 3, the output member 5, the intermediate member 7, and the spring member 9 are in the housing. The cylindrical portion 14 of the member 11 can be freely rotated. The intermediate member 7 may be mounted either before or after the spring member 9 is locked. Finally, the output shaft portion 51 of the output member 5 is inserted into the hole of the lid portion 12 as a shield member, and the lid portion 12 is fixed to the housing member 11. Various methods such as fitting and spot welding can be considered. The spring member 9 is not necessarily composed of the separate metal spring body 90 and the spring locking member 91. A synthetic resin (not shown) is relatively elastic and has excellent mechanical strength. Of course, it may be a synthetic resin spring member integrally formed by pouring in, or an aluminum spring member integrally formed by a general aluminum die casting method.

  Next, the operation of the bidirectional clutch 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. Since all the intermediate members 7 shown in FIG. 8B operate in substantially the same state, the following description also applies to the other intermediate members 7, and accordingly, the roller pieces 7 and the spring pieces 90B2 of the spring member 9 Only 90B3, the input engagement piece 34 and the input engagement piece 38, the output engagement piece 53, and members related thereto will be described. FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing a part of FIG. 8B in an enlarged manner, and shows a stationary state in which no rotational force is applied to either the input member 3 or the output member 5. FIG. 14 shows a state in which a counterclockwise rotational force is applied to the input member 3, and FIG. 15 shows a state in which a counterclockwise rotational force is applied to the output member 5. In these drawings, the same symbols as those used in FIGS. 1 to 12 indicate members having the same names.

  When no external force is applied to either the input member 3 or the output member 5, each intermediate member 7 receives an elastic force from both sides by the tip portions of the spring pieces 90B2 and 90B3 of the spring member 9, and the input engagement piece Since neither the inclined contact surface 34G of the left wall surface of 34 nor the inclined contact surface 38G of the left wall surface of the input engagement piece 38 is in contact with the intermediate member 7, the intermediate member 7 supports the output engagement piece 53. It is located substantially at the center of the front end surface 53A. Although the gap is not shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, the cylindrical shape of the housing member 11 is actually between the lower end surface of the intermediate member 7 and the front end surface 53 </ b> A of the output engagement piece 53 or between the upper end surface of the intermediate member 7 and the housing member 11. A minute gap exists between the inner wall surface 13 and the inner wall surface 13.

  First, when the input member 3 rotates counterclockwise (leftward in the drawing), the input engagement pieces 34 and 38 move counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 14, that is, leftward in FIG. The left wall surface X of the input engagement piece 34 contacts the output engagement piece 53, and the inclined contact surface 34 G of the input engagement piece 34 contacts the intermediate member 7, so that the output engagement piece 53 and the intermediate member 7 are connected. Press counterclockwise. The operation at this time will be described in detail. The output engagement piece 53 is moved until the input engagement piece 34 moves to the left in the drawing and the left wall surface X of the input engagement piece 34 contacts the right wall surface Y of the output engagement piece 53. Does not move. That is, the output engagement piece 53 does not move until it is pushed by the input engagement piece 34, so that the distance between the cylindrical inner wall surface 13 of the housing member 11 and the front end surface 53 </ b> A of the output engagement piece 53 does not change.

  The distance from the left wall surface X of the input engagement piece 34 to the right wall surface Y of the output engagement piece 53 is slight. At this time, the inclined contact surface 38G of the input engagement piece 34 contacts the intermediate member 7, and the inclined contact surface 34G is at a predetermined angle with respect to the rotation direction f of the input member 3 (the arrow direction indicated by the broken line), here the inner side. A pressing force in the direction F (direction indicated by the solid line arrow) is applied to the intermediate member 7. Since the spring member 9 also moves together with the input member 3, in this range 90B3 of the spring member 9 contracts, and the distance that the intermediate member 7 moves is very small, and the cylindrical inner wall surface of the cylindrical portion 14 of the housing member 11 is small. The positional relationship of the intermediate member 7 with respect to 13 and the front end surface 53A of the output engagement piece 53 is substantially the same as the stationary state.

  This indicates that the intermediate member 7 is positioned substantially at the center of the front end surface 53A of the output engagement piece 53. Therefore, even when the left wall surface X of the input engagement piece 34 is in contact with the right wall surface Y of the output engagement piece 53 and the inclined contact surface 38G is in contact with the intermediate member 7, the intermediate member 7 remains in the output engagement piece 53. The front end surface 53A and the cylindrical inner wall surface 13 of the housing member 11 do not bite. The same applies to the other intermediate members. That is, the input engagement pieces 34 to 38 rotate so as to press the output engagement pieces 53 to 57 and all the intermediate members 7, and the output member 5, the intermediate member 7, and the spring member 9 are brought together with the input member 3. The housing member 11 can freely rotate.

  What is important here is that the inclined contact surface 34G gives the intermediate member 7 a pressing force in the inner direction F with respect to the rotation direction f of the input member 3 as described above. In this way, the inclined contact surfaces 38G of the input engagement pieces 34 to 38 rotate while applying a pressing force in the inner direction F with respect to the rotation direction f of the input member 3 to all the intermediate members 7. The member 7 rotates while being pressed against the distal end surface 53A of the output engagement piece 53, and does not vibrate in the minute gap between the distal end surface 53A and the cylindrical inner wall surface 13 of the housing member 11. Therefore, the input member 3, the output member 5, and the intermediate member 7 spring member 9 rotate smoothly in the cylindrical portion 14 of the housing member 11, and an unnecessary rotational torque is generated without generating noise. Nor.

  This is exactly the same except that the direction is different even when the input member 3 rotates clockwise. Therefore, if the input member 3 rotates in either direction, the input engagement pieces 34 to 38 are mechanically coupled to the corresponding output engagement pieces 53 to 57 of the output member 5, but all the intermediate members 7 are connected. Is positioned substantially at the center of the respective distal end surfaces of the output engagement pieces 53 to 57 by the action of the inclined contact surfaces of the input engagement pieces 34 to 38, and the intermediate member 7 is located at the respective distal ends of the output engagement pieces 53 to 57. The output member 5 does not rotate between the input member 3 and the intermediate member 7 in the rotation direction f of the input member 3. On the other hand, since the pressing force in the inner direction F is applied, each intermediate member 7 rotates without vibration in the minute gap between the front end surface of each output engagement piece and the cylindrical inner wall surface 13 of the housing member 11. The rotational force applied to the input member 3 is output without causing noise. 5 is transmitted to the.

  Next, FIG. 15 shows a case where a counterclockwise force is applied to the output member 5 in a stationary state where no rotational force is applied to either the input member 3 or the output member 5 shown in FIG. explain. When a rotational force is applied to the output member 5 in the counterclockwise direction, the output engagement piece 53 moves to the left in the drawing. At this time, as described above, the intermediate member 7 receives forces in the opposite directions by the spring pieces 90B2 and 90B3 of the spring member 9, so that it does not move substantially or even if it moves as shown in FIG. Only. Accordingly, as the output engagement piece 53 moves in the left direction of the drawing, the intermediate member 7 comes to be positioned in the right direction of the drawing at the front end surface 53A of the output engagement piece 53. Since the gap between the right end side and the cylindrical inner wall surface 13 of the housing member 11 becomes narrow, that is, the end of the front end surface 53A of the output engagement piece 53 is closer to the end than the center of the front end surface 53A of the output engagement piece 53. Since the gap between the side and the cylindrical inner wall surface 13 of the housing member 11 is narrower than the diameter of the intermediate member 7, the intermediate member 7 is on the end side of the front end surface 53 A of the output engagement piece 53, and the front end surface 53 A and the housing member 11 and the inner wall surface 13 of the cylindrical body 13 is in a locked state before the left wall surface Y ′ of the output engagement piece 53 contacts the right wall surface X ′ of the input engagement piece 38. The same applies to the other output engagement pieces 54 to 57.

  Therefore, the output member 5 can no longer rotate, and the output engagement pieces 53 to 57 of the output member 5 do not contact the input engagement pieces 34 to 38, and the rotational force applied to the output member 5 is the input member. 3 is not transmitted. This is exactly the same when the output member 5 rotates clockwise. Further, when a clockwise force is applied to the output member 5 in this locked state, in FIG. 15, the output engagement piece 53 inclines in the right direction opposite to the illustration, and the left end of the front end surface 53 </ b> A of the output engagement piece 53. The intermediate member 7 bites between the side and the cylindrical inner wall surface 13 of the housing member 11 and is also locked.

  When a counterclockwise rotational force (leftward in the drawing) is applied to the input member 3 in the locked state as shown in FIG. 15, the input engagement pieces 34 and 38 move in the leftward direction in the same manner as described above. The left wall surface X of the input engagement piece 34 comes into contact with the intermediate member 7 to return the intermediate member 7 to the substantially center of the front end surface 53A of the output engagement piece 53, whereby the lower end surface of the intermediate member 7 and the output engagement piece 53 are restored. A small gap is generated between the front end surface 53A of the first member and the upper end surface of the intermediate member 7 and the cylindrical inner wall surface 13 of the housing member 11, and the locked state is released. The output member 5 rotates together with the input member 3 by contacting the output engaging piece 53 and applying a rotational force. The relationship between the other input engagement pieces 35 to 38 and the output engagement pieces 54 to 57 is the same, and the input member 3 rotates the output member 5 and the intermediate member 7 together in the clockwise direction. Accordingly, the rotational force of the input member 3 is transmitted to the output member 5 regardless of which direction of rotational force is applied to the input member 3 in the locked state. However, the external force applied to the output member 5 in any rotational direction causes the intermediate member 7 to bite between the distal end surface of each output engagement piece and the cylindrical inner wall surface 13 of the housing member 11, and is locked. It is not transmitted to the member 3.

[Embodiment 2]
An inclined contact surface of an input engagement piece of another bidirectional clutch will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 16, the same symbols as those used in FIGS. 1 to 15 indicate members having similar names. Since the structure of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the inclined contact surface of the input engagement piece in the second embodiment, the description of the rest is omitted. Since all of the input side engaging pieces 34 to 38 have substantially the same structure, and all of the output engaging pieces 53 to 57 have substantially the same structure, the input side engaging pieces 34 and 38 and the output engaging pieces in FIG. 53 and only the parts related to them are shown, and the spring member 9 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and is not shown.

  The input side engaging pieces 34 and 38 have inclined contact surfaces 34H and 38H on both side walls facing each other when the output engaging piece 53 enters. The inclined contact surfaces of the first embodiment, for example, the illustrated inclined contact surfaces 34G and 38G are inclined surfaces that are directed at a predetermined angle inward with respect to the rotation direction of the input member 3, while Two inclined contact surfaces, for example, the illustrated inclined contact surfaces 34H and 38H are inclined surfaces facing the rotation direction of the input member 3 at a predetermined angle with respect to the rotation direction of the input member 3, and are inclined contact surfaces 34G and 38G. Different. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 16B, the inclined contact surfaces 34H and 38H are oriented in the outward direction at a predetermined angle with respect to the rotation direction f of the input member 3 (indicated by broken arrows) (solid line). Can be applied to the intermediate member 7. In other words, the inclined contact surface in the first embodiment applied inward pressure to the outer surface of the circular cross-section of the intermediate member 7, whereas the inclined contact surface in the second embodiment has the intermediate contact 7. The difference is that an outward pressing force is applied to the inner surface of the circular cross section.

  The operation is almost the same as that of the first embodiment and will not be described in detail. For example, when a counterclockwise rotational force is applied to the input member 3, the left wall surface X of the input engagement piece 34 is positioned on the right side of the output engagement piece 53. While pushing the wall surface Y, a force in a direction K in which the inclined contact surface 34H of the input engagement piece 34 is directed outward by a predetermined angle with respect to the rotation direction f is applied to the intermediate member 7. Therefore, the intermediate member 7 rotates together with the input member 3 and the output member 5 while being pressed against the cylindrical inner wall surface 13 of the housing member 11 by the inclined contact surface 34H of the input engagement piece 34. 7 does not vibrate between the cylindrical inner wall surface 13 of the housing member 11 and the front end surface 53A of the output engagement piece 53. This smoothly rotates the input member 3, the output member 5, and the intermediate member 7 within the cylindrical portion 14 of the housing member 11, and no noise is generated. When the input member 3 rotates in the clockwise direction, the same is basically applied, and the force in the direction in which the inclined contact surface 38H of the input engagement piece 38 is directed outward at a predetermined angle with respect to the rotation direction f is applied. The intermediate member 7 is given. Further, when a rotational force is applied to the output member 5, it is exactly the same as in the first embodiment.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the portions 91B2 of the spring locking member 91 of the spring member 9 are inserted into the spring locking portions 34a to 38a and the spring locking portions 34b to 38b of the input member 3 for locking. However, without providing the spring locking portions 34a to 38a, the spring locking portions 34b to 38b, and the spring locking member 91, the metal spring body 90 of the spring member 9 is attached to the input member 3 by normal spot welding or the like. It may be fixed to each input engagement piece or a specific input engagement piece. In this case, although not shown in the figure, projections having a height of about 0.3 to 0.8 mm are preferably formed at the welded portions W of the metallic spring body 90, and welding current is applied to these projections during welding. It is sufficient to concentrate resistance and perform resistance welding. As a preferred example of this resistance welding method, the electric energy stored in the capacitor is discharged in a short time, for example, several tens of milliseconds or less, so that the pulsed welding current is made metallic with the input side engagement pieces 34 to 38. Capacitor-type resistance welding, in which resistance welding is performed by flowing between the spring body 90, is effective. According to this welding method, a desired welding strength can be easily obtained with little thermal influence on other portions. Can do. Similarly, the metallic spring body 90 may be welded to both ends of the output side engaging pieces 53 to 57. In this case, the spring member 9 is fixed to the output member 5, but there is substantially no effect on the operation of transmitting the rotational force to the output member 5 when the rotational force is applied to the input member 3. The operation is the same as in the first and second embodiments. Instead of welding, other joining methods such as ultrasonic joining, pressure welding, and brazing that are generally performed may be used.

  Although not shown, when the input common portion 32 and the input engagement portion 33 in the input member 3 shown in FIG. 3 are integrally formed of a synthetic rubber material or a synthetic resin material, a synthetic rubber is used as a mold (not shown). Generally, the input common portion 32 and the input engagement portion 33 are formed by pouring material or synthetic resin. At this time, the individual spring portions projecting opposite to each other from the side wall surfaces X and X ′ (FIG. 15) where the adjacent input engagement pieces 34 to 38 shown in FIG. 3 face each other are formed together with the same material at the time of molding. You may do it. Various shapes of the spring portion are conceivable. For example, as in the above-described embodiment, a spring structure that applies an elastic force so as to sandwich both end sides of each roller as an intermediate member, or a center portion of each roller is sandwiched. A spring structure that gives an elastic force to the roller, and a spring structure that gives an elastic force so as to sandwich the both ends of the roller at many locations are conceivable. Further, when a shaft fixed to a driving device such as a motor (not shown) is used as the input shaft portion 31 of the input member 3 shown in FIG. You may press fit.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the input engagement piece of the input member 3 and the output engagement piece of the output member 5 have been described as five, but one output engagement piece may be provided. In this case, the input member 3 has two input engagement pieces that form one space that fits into one output engagement piece, and the cylindrical inner wall surface 13 of the housing and the input member 3 What is necessary is just to provide the spring member which has one output engaging piece, one intermediate member, and a pair of spring piece which gives the elastic force of this direction to this intermediate member in the space formed. That is, when a rotational driving force is applied from the output member to the input member, one roller member may bite between the front end surface of one output engagement piece and the cylindrical inner wall surface 13 of the housing. Further, two to four output engagement pieces, or six or more output engagement pieces may be arranged at equal intervals.

  And the spring piece of a spring member should just be increased according to the number of intermediate members. Further, a lubricant such as grease is applied to the housing member 1 including a recess (for example, 34c) as a grease reservoir provided in each input engagement piece, or rotation such as a bearing or an oil-impregnated metal is applied. If an auxiliary member is provided between the input shaft portion 31, the output shaft portion 51, and the housing member 11 to reduce the frictional resistance between them, further improvement in life and operational stability can be expected. Further, the spring member 9 may not be an integral type, and for example, individual spring members may be attached to the side walls on both sides of each input engagement piece. Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, both end sides of the intermediate member 7 are held from both sides by a pair of spring pieces, respectively, but elastic force is applied to the intermediate member in one direction with the spring pieces on one side, Even a spring member having a structure in which the spring pieces are arranged so that the elastic force is balanced in both the left and right directions in the drawing operates in the same manner as in the first or second embodiment.

  In the embodiment described above, the intermediate member 7 is described as a roller, but it may be a ball. When a rotational driving force to be transmitted is small and an even smaller two-way clutch is required, the length of the output engagement piece of the output member 5 is set to a length equivalent to the diameter of a ball (not shown). The width of the output engagement piece is preferably about the same as the diameter of a ball (not shown). Then, by making the input engagement piece dimension to match the length of the output engagement piece of the output member 5, a small bidirectional clutch having a ball as an intermediate member can be obtained. In FIG. 1, the input shaft portion 31 may be led out from the lid portion 12, and the output shaft portion 51 may be led out from the through hole 16 of the side wall portion 15.

It is drawing which shows the external appearance of the bidirectional clutch which concerns on Embodiment 1 of invention. It is drawing which shows the housing member of this bidirectional clutch. It is drawing which shows the input member of this bidirectional clutch. It is drawing which shows the input member of this bidirectional clutch. It is drawing which expands and shows a part of input member shown in FIG. It is drawing which shows the output member of this bidirectional clutch. It is drawing which shows the output member of this bidirectional clutch. It is drawing for demonstrating the structure of this bidirectional clutch. It is drawing which shows the spring member used for this bidirectional clutch. It is explanatory drawing which looked at a part of this bidirectional clutch from the side. It is drawing which shows the metal spring body of the spring member used for this bidirectional clutch. It is drawing which shows the member for spring latching of the spring member used for this bidirectional clutch. It is explanatory drawing which expanded a part seeing this both clutches from the front. It is explanatory drawing which expanded a part seeing this both clutches from the front. It is explanatory drawing which expanded a part seeing this both clutches from the front. It is explanatory drawing which expands and shows a part of bidirectional clutch which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Housing 3 ... Input member 5 ... Output member 7 ... Intermediate member 7A, 7B ... Projection part of both ends of intermediate member 7 9 ... Spring member 9A, 9B ... No. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2nd spring member 11 ... Housing member 12 ... Cover part 13 ... Cylindrical inner wall surface 14 ... Cylindrical part of the housing member 11 15 ... Side wall part of the housing member 16 .. Through hole 17 in the side wall portion 17... Derived portion of the side wall portion 31... Input shaft portion 32 of the input member 3 32 .. Input common portion 32 A. the other end of the · input engaging portion 34 to 38 ... enter engagement piece 34A～38a ... enter engaging piece at one end of the spring engaging portion 34B～38b ... enter engaging piece side of the spring locking portion 34c, the recess 34G formed on the outer wall surface of 38c · · · input engagement piece 34 and 38 38G ... Input engagement piece slope of 34, 38 abutting surface 34H, inclined contact surface 51 ... output shaft part 51A ... press-in portion 52 of the 38H ... input engagement piece 34 and 38 ... Output engaging portion 52A ... Output common portion 53 to 57 ... Output engaging piece 53a ... End face (supporting surface) of the output engaging piece 53
90 ... Metal spring body of spring member 9 90A ... Annular part of metal spring body 90B ... Metal piece of metal spring body 90B1 ... First part of metal piece 90B 90B2, 90B3 ... Second and third parts of metal piece 90B (spring pieces)
91 ... Spring locking member 91A ... Annular portion of spring locking member 91B ... Spring locking member locking portion 91B1, 91B2 ... First and second locking portions Portion 91C, 91D ... notch of the locking portion A ... outer wall surface of the input side engagement piece X, X '... side wall surface of the input engagement piece Y, Y' ... output engagement piece Side wall surface of Z1 ... center axis of input member 3 Z2 ... center axis of output member 5

Claims (1)

An input member, an output member, an intermediate member, a spring member that gives elastic force to the intermediate member, and a housing member that houses these members, and rotational driving force from the input member is transmitted to the output member, and the output member In the bidirectional clutch in which the rotational force from is not transmitted to the input member,
The housing member has a cylindrical inner wall;
The input member has an input shaft portion and an input engagement portion located at one end of the input shaft portion,
The output member has an output shaft portion and an output engagement portion that is located on one end side of the output shaft portion and engages with the input engagement portion,
The input engagement portion has a plurality of input engagement pieces at regular intervals,
The output engagement portion has one or more output engagement pieces at regular intervals,
The input engagement piece and the output engagement piece enter each other with their side wall surfaces facing each other so that they can engage with each other,
The intermediate member is provided between the input engaging pieces adjacent to each other, and between the distal end surface of the output engaging piece and the cylindrical inner wall surface of the housing member,
When the input engagement piece abuts on the intermediate member , the input engagement piece applies a pressing force having a vector in the inner direction with respect to the rotation direction of the input member and having a vector in the direction of the center point of the intermediate member to the intermediate member. An inclined abutment surface that is inclined so as to be provided on the front end side of the side wall surface on both sides of the input engagement piece,
When the input member rotates, the side wall surface of the input member presses the side wall surface of the output engagement piece, and the inclined contact surface causes the intermediate member to move to the front end surface of the output engagement piece. A two-way clutch characterized by pressing almost in the center .

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