JPH07301258A - Hub clutch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate a disjoining between a retainer and a plate as well as to improve the extent for maintainability by connecting both these elements holding an inner edge part of a diaphragm between, together at an engaged part installed at the side of a pressure chamber. CONSTITUTION:A cylindrical part 97 projected to the side of a pressure chamber 93 is made up in a retainer 79, installing a movable arm 99 piercing through this cylindrical part 97 is insin a plate 97, and a claw 101 to be engaged on top of the cylindrical part 97 is installed in the tip. This arm 99 is made up of dividing a cylidner into four parts, and a diaphragm 87 is bent inward in a state of holding a diaphragm 87 in a gap with the retainer 79, inserting it into the cylindrical part 97, and the claw 101 is engaged with it, and an engaged part 103 between the retainer 79 and the plate 91 is constituted at the side of the pressure chamber 93. Therefore if a bolt 49 is removed and a housing 47 is taken away, the claw 101 is separable from the cylindrical part 97, whereby both joinings between the plate 91 and the retainer 79 as well as between the retainer 79 and a slide gear 67, and dismantlement between the diaphragm 87 and a shift spring 105 and so on can be done, so maintainability is sharply improvable.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is a four-wheel drive (4WD).
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a hub clutch that engages and disengages between a drive axle and wheels in a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A hub clutch is described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-123719. FIG. 4 shows a hub clutch 201 having a similar structure. In this, the housing 205 on the wheel hub 203 side and the drive gear 209 on the drive axle 207 side are disengaged by operating the slide gear 211 to connect and disconnect the wheels and the axle 207. The movement of the slide gear 211 is performed by the diaphragm 21.
Pressure chamber 215 defined in housing 205 by
Means for supplying air pressure to the shift spring 217
And by.

The outer edge portion of the diaphragm 213 is fixed to the inner periphery of the housing 205 by a support ring 219, and the inner edge portion is sandwiched between the retainer 221 and the plate 223. The retainer 221 is a snap ring 225 and is a slide gear. It is connected to 211. An air chamber 229 is provided between the diaphragm 213 and the cover 227, and the air chamber 229 communicates with the outside through the filter 231 to reduce the back pressure on the diaphragm 213.

The assembly of the hub clutch 201 as described above is generally performed in the following order.

First, the diaphragm 213 is attached to the housing 2
05, and the slide gear 211 to which the retainer 221 is attached is meshed with the spline portion 233 of the housing 205 from the left side of FIG. Next, the diaphragm 213 is sandwiched between the plate 223 and the retainer 221, and the plate 223 is fixed by the claw 235 of the retainer 221. Further, the spring 217 is inserted and the cover 227 is screwed to the housing 205, and a part of the cover 227 is caulked to prevent the cover 227 from coming off as indicated by an arrow 237. The plate 223 is provided with a hollow convex portion 239 protruding toward the air chamber 229, and the claw 235 is locked to the top surface of the convex portion 239. or,
The housing 205 can be removed from the wheel hub 203 by removing the bolt 241.

[0006]

The maintenance of the hub clutch 201 is performed by removing the housing 205 from the wheel hub 203, but as described above, the pawl 23 of the retainer 221 is maintained.
5 is provided on the cover 227 side, and the cover 227 does not come off after the assembly, it is difficult to remove the slide gear 211 and the diaphragm 213, and the maintainability is poor. Further, when torque is applied between the slide gear 211 and the drive gear 209, disengagement between them may be suddenly performed. In such a case, the air chamber 229 cannot suddenly contract, so that the back pressure thereof is reduced. Receive and retainer 221
It takes a lot of power. Therefore, the retainer 221 is desired to be made of metal, but if it is made of metal, the arm 24 having the claw 235 is provided.
It is difficult to make 3 flexible. Further, the plate 223 is exposed to the atmosphere in the air chamber 229, and is therefore easily corroded.

Therefore, the present invention provides a hub clutch that is easy to disassemble and has good maintainability, that the retainer that supports the slide gear has sufficient strength, and that the plate that supports the diaphragm is not corroded between the retainer and the retainer. With the goal.

[0008]

A hub clutch according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a housing having a gear portion and fixed to a wheel hub, a drive gear on a drive axle side, and a housing and a drive driven by meshing with these gears. A clutch mechanism having a connecting position for connecting a gear and a slide gear movable to a releasing position for releasing the connection, a retainer interlocking with the slide gear, and a diaphragm having an outer edge portion hermetically fixed to the housing side. A plate for hermetically holding the inner edge of the diaphragm between the retainer and the retainer, a cover fixed to the housing, a pressure chamber defined by the diaphragm on the clutch mechanism side and formed on the cover side to communicate with the outside. The locking part that locks the retainer and the plate on the side of the air chamber and the pressure chamber, and the slide gear are urged to one of the two positions. A biasing member that is characterized in that the slide gear against the urging member to supply air pressure to the pressure chamber and a operation means for moving operation to the two positions (claim 1).

In the hub clutch according to the second aspect of the present invention, the locking portion has a hollow convex portion provided on the retainer and protruding toward the pressure chamber, a flexible arm provided on the plate and penetrating the convex portion, and the arm. The hub clutch according to claim 1, wherein the hub clutch is provided on the claw and is engaged with the top surface of the convex portion.

A hub clutch according to a third aspect of the present invention is the hub clutch according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the retainer is made of metal and the plate is made of weather-resistant material.

[0011]

According to the hub clutch of each invention, the retainer for sandwiching the inner edge of the diaphragm and the plate are connected by the engaging portion provided on the pressure chamber side. Not on the cover side. Therefore, even if the cover cannot be removed, if the housing is removed from the wheel, the retainer and the plate can be easily disassembled, and maintainability is greatly improved.

In the configuration of the second aspect of the invention, the locking portion is formed by the hollow convex portion formed on the retainer and the claw provided on the plate-side flexible arm and locked on the top surface of the convex portion.

Further, in the hub clutch of the third aspect of the present invention, since the retainer is made of metal, it is provided with sufficient strength to withstand a large force associated with the connection and disconnection of the hub clutch. Further, since the plate is made of a weather resistant material, it is prevented from being corroded by the atmosphere in the air chamber.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the third invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows this embodiment, and FIG. 3 shows the power system of a 4WD vehicle using this embodiment. The left and right directions are the left and right directions in this vehicle and FIG. Further, members and the like not given reference numerals are not shown.

As shown in FIG. 3, this power system includes an engine 1, a transmission 3, a transfer 5, a power connection / disconnection device 7 arranged in the transfer 5, a front wheel side propeller shaft 9, a front differential 11 (a front wheel side differential). Device), front axles 13, 15, hub clutches 17, 19 of the embodiment, left and right front wheels 21, 23, rear wheel side propeller shaft 25, rear differential 27 (rear wheel side differential device), rear axles 29, 31, Left and right rear wheels 33, 35
Etc.

The driving force of the engine 1 is transmitted from the transmission 3 to the rear differential 27 through the transfer 5 and the propeller shaft 25 and distributed to the left and right rear wheels 33 and 35. In addition, the power connection / disconnection device 7 and the hub clutches 17 and 19
Drive force from the transfer 5 via the propeller shaft 9 and the front differential 11 to the left and right front wheels 2
1 and 23 are distributed, and the vehicle enters the 4WD state.

When the connection of the power connection / disconnection device 7 is released, the front wheels 2
1, 2 and 3 are separated from the engine 1 and the vehicle enters the 2WD state. At this time, the hub clutches 17 and 19 are also disconnected so that vibration, noise, wear and the like due to the accompanying rotation of the front wheel side driving force transmission system are prevented.

Next, an embodiment will be described by taking the hub clutch 19 on the right front wheel 23 side as an example.

As shown in FIG. 1, a hollow spindle 37
A wheel hub 41 is supported in the bearing via a bearing 39. The spindle 37 is fixed to the vehicle body. The brake disc 43 and the wheel wheel of the front wheel 23 are fastened together to the wheel hub 41 with bolts 45. Further, the wheel hub 41 has a housing 47 and a bolt 49.
The spline 51 of the wheel hub 41 meshes with the spline 53 (gear portion) on the inner circumference of the housing 47. Wheel hub 41 and housing 4
An O-ring 55 is arranged between 7 to prevent air leakage.

The front axle 15 (driving axle) is the wheel hub 4.
1, a drive gear 57 is spline-connected to the right end portion thereof. The axle 15 is supported by the wheel hub 41 via a bearing 59. Drive gear 5
7 is supported by the wheel hub 41 via a bearing 61, and prevents the tip of the axle 15 from swinging. Seals 63 and 65 are arranged between the spindle 37 and the axle 15 and the wheel hub 41, respectively.

Inside the housing 47, a ring-shaped slide gear 67 is arranged. The slide gear 67 can move in the axial direction on the housing 47 by meshing with a spline 69 provided on the outer circumference. The slide gear 67 can be disengaged from the drive gear 57.

When the slide gear 67 moves to the connecting position where it meshes with the drive gear 57 as in the lower half of FIG. 1, the front wheel 23 is connected to the axle 15, and as shown in the upper half of FIG. When the front wheel 23 is moved to the disengagement position where the meshing is released, the front wheel 23 is separated from the axle 15 to be in a free rotation state. Thus, the clutch mechanism 71 for engaging and disengaging the front wheel 23 and the axle 15 is configured.

After the cover 73 is screwed to the right end of the housing 47, a part of the cover 73 is caulked to prevent the cover 73 from falling off. A filter 77 is arranged between the housing 47 and the cover 73. The inside of the cover 73 communicates with the outside through a filter 77, and the filter 77 prevents foreign matter from entering from the outside.

The slide gear 67 has an arm 8 of a retainer 79.
1 is fixed by a snap ring 83, and a gear 85 provided on the arm 81 meshes with a slide gear 67. Further, the outer edge of the diaphragm 87 is airtightly fixed to the inner periphery of the housing 47 by a support ring 89. The inner edge of the diaphragm 87 is airtightly sandwiched between the retainer 79 and the plate 91. Thus, the diaphragm 87
A pressure chamber 93 is formed on the left side of the, and an air chamber 95 is formed inside the cover 73 on the right side. The air chamber 95 communicates with the outside as described above. The retainer 79 is made of steel, and the plate 91 is made of plastic (weatherproof material).

The retainer 79 is formed with a cylindrical portion 97 (convex portion) protruding toward the pressure chamber 93, and the plate 91 is provided with a flexible arm 99 penetrating the cylindrical portion 97. At the tip of the claw 1 that is locked to the top surface of the cylindrical portion 97
01 is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the arm 99 is formed by dividing the cylinder into four parts, and with the diaphragm 87 sandwiched between the retainer 79 and the arm 99, the arm 99 is bent inward as shown by the arrow to pass through the cylindrical portion 97. The claw 101 is locked. Thus, the locking portion 103 that locks the retainer 79 and the plate 91 is formed on the pressure chamber 93 side.

A shift spring 105 (urging member) for urging the slide gear 67 to a connecting position via a retainer 79 is arranged between the cover 73 and the plate 91.

The pressure chamber 93 includes an axle 15 and a spindle 3
Air pressure (positive pressure) is sent from the air pump as indicated by an arrow through the air flow path 107 between the air passages 7, the air 109 between the seals 63 and 65, the air hose, and the control valve device. When air pressure is sent to the pressure chamber 93, the shift spring 105 bends to move the slide gear 67 to the disconnection position, and when the pressure chamber 93 is opened to the atmosphere by the control valve device, the slide gear 67 is biased by the shift spring 105. 67 moves to the connecting position.

In order to reduce the resistance to the movement operation of the slide gear 67, the air chamber 95 has the external communication structure as described above. Further, air control by the control valve device is performed by the controller, and the controller, the control valve device, the air pump, and the like constitute the control means of the clutch mechanism 71.

In the hub clutch 19, the engaging portion 103 between the cylindrical portion 97 of the retainer 79 and the claw 101 of the plate 91 as described above is different from the conventional example in the air chamber 95 (the cover 73).
Side) but not on the pressure chamber 93 side. Therefore, if the bolt 49 is removed and the housing 47 is removed, the claw 1
01 can be removed from the cylindrical portion 97, the plate 91 and the retainer 79 are disassembled, and the retainer 79 and the slide gear 67 are disassembled.
Can be disassembled, the diaphragm 87 and the shift spring 105 can be removed, and the maintainability is greatly improved.

Further, the steel retainer 79 has sufficient strength, withstands an impact force when the slide gear 67 engages and disengages with the drive gear 57, and there is no fear of breakage or deformation.
Further, the plastic plate 91 does not corrode when exposed to the outside air in the air chamber 95.

The air pressure supplied to the pressure chamber may be a negative pressure. Also, the clutch mechanism may be connected when air pressure is supplied.

The weather resistant material of the plate is not limited to plastic, but may be a metal such as stainless steel or SPA material (high weather resistant rolled steel material) as long as it has appropriate flexibility.

[0033]

In the hub clutch of each invention, the retainer for holding the diaphragm and the plate engaging portion are provided on the side opposite to the cover, so disassembly is facilitated and maintainability is greatly improved. Further, in the configuration of the third aspect of the invention, the retainer is made of metal and has sufficient strength, and the plate is made of weather resistant material so that there is no risk of corrosion.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a third invention.

FIG. 2 is a view on arrow A in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a skeleton mechanism diagram showing a power system of a vehicle using the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 15 Axle (Drive Axle) 19 Hub Clutch 41 Wheel Hub 47 Housing 53 Spline (Gear) 57 Drive Gear 67 Slide Gear 71 Clutch Mechanism 73 Cover 79 Retainer 87 Diaphragm 91 Plate 93 Pressure Chamber 95 Air Chamber 97 Cylindrical Section (Convex) 99 arm 101 claw 103 locking portion 105 shift spring (biasing member)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A housing having a gear portion, which is fixed to a wheel hub, a drive gear on a drive axle side, a connecting position for connecting the housing and the drive gear by meshing with these gears, and this connection is released. A clutch mechanism having a slide gear movable to a disengaged position,
A retainer that interlocks with the slide gear, a diaphragm whose outer edge is airtightly fixed to the housing side, a plate that airtightly holds the inner edge of this diaphragm between the retainer, a cover fixed to the housing, and a diaphragm. The pressure chamber formed on the side of the clutch mechanism and the air chamber formed on the side of the cover and the air chamber communicating with the outside, the locking portion for locking the retainer and the plate on the pressure chamber side, and the slide gear in one of the two positions. A hub clutch, comprising: a biasing member for biasing; and an operating means for supplying air pressure to the pressure chamber to move the slide gear to both positions against the biasing member. 2. The locking portion has a hollow convex portion provided on the retainer and protruding toward the pressure chamber, a flexible arm provided on the plate and penetrating the convex portion, and a convex portion provided on the arm. The hub clutch according to claim 1, comprising a pawl that is locked to the top surface. 3. The hub clutch according to claim 1, wherein the retainer is made of metal and the plate is made of weather resistant material.