JPH0756291B2 - Positive clutch - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a positive clutch, and more particularly to a positive clutch that can be selectively used as both a normal positive clutch and a so-called automatic one-rotation clutch.

(B) Prior Art As a conventional one of a so-called positive clutch, the clutch member attached to the input shaft and the clutch member attached to the output shaft are securely locked to reliably transmit the rotation of the input shaft to the output shaft. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a so-called mesh clutch in which teeth e and f which mesh with each other are formed on each of a clutch member b attached to an input shaft a and a clutch member d attached to an output shaft c, or FIG. There is a so-called slip-on clutch in which a hole h is formed in a clutch member g attached to the output shaft a and a pin j which is inserted into the hole h is provided in a clutch member i attached to the output shaft c as shown in FIG.

However, these conventional positive clutches cannot be engaged or locked while being rotated at a high speed because a large impact is applied when the two clutch members are engaged or locked. Also, the clutch member, pins, etc. must be moved in the axial direction when the clutch is locked or released,
From this point as well, it is not suitable for high speed operation. Furthermore, these clutches cannot be used as so-called automatic one-turn clutches.

As a measure to solve the above problem, a semi-circular groove is formed on the outer circumference of the input shaft, and a semi-circular groove is formed on the inner circumference of the output member arranged outside the input shaft. A locking member having a semi-circular cross section is rotatably arranged in the space, and the locking member having the semi-circular cross section is located at a position within the semi-circular groove of the input shaft or at the semi-circular groove of the input shaft and the output member. A structure for engaging and disengaging the clutch by setting it in a position in both is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 30-11994.
Since the rotation angle of the locking member is small and the locking member engages with the semicircular groove on the output member side shallowly, it is not suitable for transmitting a large torque.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention The problems to be solved by the present invention are, in a positive clutch, capable of engaging and disengaging reliably and smoothly without timing deviation even at high speed operation, capable of withstanding a large torque, and necessary. Therefore, it can be used as a so-called automatic one-rotation clutch.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention is directed to an input shaft and an output shaft that are independently rotatably arranged on the same axis line, and at least one engaging member fixed to the input shaft and located on the outer circumference. A clutch member having a groove formed therein, a support member fixed to the output shaft and having a chamber for accommodating the clutch member, and a position on the support member parallel to the input shaft and around the clutch member. And a locking member that is rotatably supported about the axis of the clutch member, and a locking groove that can be aligned with the locking groove of the clutch member is formed on the inner periphery of the chamber of the support. A stop member extends through a space defined by the engagement groove of the clutch member and the engagement groove of the support, and the engagement member has a substantially semicircular cutout formed at a position corresponding to the space. In the clutch, the output shaft is next to the support A stopper gear is attached so as to be relatively rotatable with respect to the output shaft, a gear that meshes with the stopper gear is provided on the locking member, and a stopper plate is fixed to the stopper gear to fix the stopper plate and the support body. A stopper pin that is biased in mutually opposite directions in the circumferential direction about the axis of the output shaft and abuts the stopper plate on the support body to limit rotation of the support body and the stopper plate in the opposite direction. Is provided, the stopper plate can be selectively stopped by the stopper, the pitch radius of the stopper gear is made larger than the pitch radius of the gear provided on the locking member, and the rotation angle of the locking member is changed to the stopper. It is configured to be larger than the rotation angle of the plate.

(E) Operation In the above configuration, when the rotation of the stopper gear is not blocked from the outside, the stopper gear is biased in one direction with respect to the output shaft, the locking member is in the locking groove of the clutch member, and It is connected to the output shaft. When the stopper gear is prevented from rotating, the locking member pivots around the output shaft due to the rotation of the input shaft, causing itself to rotate (spin).
Then, the relief part comes to the position of the locking groove. Then, the input shaft becomes freely rotatable with respect to the locking member, and the input shaft and the output shaft are opened.

(F) Example Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, the positive clutch 1 according to this embodiment.
It is shown. In the figure, 2 and 3 are side walls of the clutch housing, and 4 and 5 are input shafts and output shafts which are coaxially arranged and rotatably supported by the side walls 2 and 3 of the clutch housing. The input shaft 4 is rotatably supported by a bearing 6 provided on the side wall 2 and another bearing 7 of the clutch housing, while the output shaft 5 is a pair of bearings provided in a bearing tube 8 fixed to the side wall 3. It is rotatably supported by 9. A timing pulley 11 is fixed to the input shaft 4 adjacent to the side wall 2, and a timing belt 12 is hung on the timing pulley. One end of the input shaft 4 (first
A clutch member, that is, a clutch plate 13 is fixed to the right end in the figure. As shown in FIG. 2, a semicircular locking groove (one in this embodiment) 14 is formed on the outer periphery of the clutch plate 13.

A support 21 is fixed to one end (the left end in FIG. 1) of the output shaft 5. A clutch plate 13 is housed in a chamber 23 defined by a support 21 and a cover 22 fixed to one end surface (the left end surface in FIG. 1) of the support body 21 and the cover 22 and the input shaft 4. Bearings 16 and 17 are provided. A locking member 25 having a circular cross section is rotatably provided in a hole 24 formed in the peripheral portion of the support body 21 and the cover 22 and penetrating in the axial direction. A gear 26 is integrally formed at the end portion (right end in FIG. 1) of this locking member. An escape portion, that is, a semicircular cutout 27 is formed in a part of the locking member 25, that is, a position corresponding to the clutch plate 13.

A stopper gear 31 is rotatably provided on the output shaft 5 adjacent to the support 21. This stopper gear 31 is a locking member
It meshes with the gear 26 of 25. A stopper plate 32 is fixed to the stopper gear 31. A coil spring 34 is provided on the outer periphery of the end 33 of the stopper gear 31. One end (left end in FIG. 1) of this coil spring 34 is fixed to a pin 35 fixed to a stopper plate 32, and the other end is fixed to a support 21.
It is fixed at 36. This spring 34 is a protrusion of the stopper plate 32.
The stopper plate 32 is biased in the clockwise direction in FIG. 3 and the support body 21 in the counterclockwise direction at a position where 37 engages with the stopper pin 38 fixed to the support body 21 as shown in FIG. is doing.

A stopper 41, which engages with the protrusion 37 of the stopper plate 32, is rotatably provided by a pin 42 on the periphery of the stopper plate 32. The stopper 41 is rotated about the pin 42 by the solenoid 43, the tip end engages with the protrusion 37, and the stopper plate 32
Also, the rotation of the stopper gear 31 can be prevented.

In the positive clutch configured as described above, when the stopper 41 is not engaged with the protrusion 37 of the stopper plate 32, the stopper plate 32 contacts the stopper pin 38 with the protrusion 37 as shown in FIG. It is in a state. In this state, the semicircular portion of the locking member 25 is in a state of being just inserted in the locking groove 14 of the clutch plate 13 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the input shaft 4 and the output shaft 5 have a clutch plate 13,
It is connected via the locking member 25 and the support 21, and the rotation of the input shaft is transmitted to the output shaft. At this time, the stopper plate 32 rotates together with the output shaft while maintaining the positional relationship as shown in FIG.

Next, when the solenoid 43 is operated to raise the stopper 41, the stopper 41 abuts against the protrusion 37 of the stopper plate 32, so that the rotation of the stopper plate 32 is blocked, and thus the rotation of the stopper gear 31 is also blocked. Since the input shaft 4 and the output shaft 5 continue to rotate even if the rotation of the stopper gear is blocked,
The locking member 25 supported by the support 21 continues to rotate around the axis of the output shaft 5. When the locking member turns, since the gear 26 meshes with the stopped stopper gear 31, the gear 26 itself rotates (spins). When the locking member 25 rotates, it starts to rotate in the clockwise direction from the state shown in FIG. 4 [A], and the semicircular portion gradually moves from the locking groove 14 as shown in FIG. 4 [B], [c]. The escape portion 27 coincides with the engaging groove 14 in the state shown in FIG. Therefore, the engagement between the clutch plate 13 and the locking member 25 is released, and the clutch plate 13 starts to rotate relative to the support 21 and the locking member 25. Therefore, the stopper plate 32
As long as the protrusion 37 and the stopper 41 are locked, the clutch plate 13 can freely rotate with respect to the support 21, and there is no transmission of power from the input shaft to the output shaft.

Next, when the operation of the solenoid 43 is stopped and the stopper 41 is lowered, the stopper plate 32 tries to return to the state where the projection 37 abuts on the stopper pin 38 as shown in FIG. Unless the notch 27 is in the position of the locking groove 14 of the clutch plate 13, the edge of the flat surface 29 of the locking member 25 contacts the outer periphery of the clutch plate 13 and the locking member cannot rotate. For this reason, only the clutch plate 13 rotates (the clockwise direction in FIG. 4) while the locking member 25 remains in the state as shown in FIG. 4 [E]. In this state, when the locking groove 14 comes to the position of the edge of the flat surface 29 of the notch 27 of the locking member 25 (the left edge in FIG. 4) as shown in FIG. The member 25 is biased by the spring 34 via the gear 26 and the stopper gear 31 so as to rotate in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 4, so that FIG.
Like [H], it rotates and begins to enter into the locking groove 14. Then, the locking member 25 is locked in the locking groove 14 as shown in FIG. 4 [I].
When it fits inside, the protrusion 37 of the stopper plate 32 comes into contact with the stopper pin 38 to stop the rotation, and the engagement between the clutch plate 13 and the engagement member 25 is completed, and the input shaft 4 and the output shaft are connected. To be done.

Therefore, when the stopper 41 is raised and brought into contact with the protrusion 37 so that the locking member 25 comes out of the locking groove 14 and the locking member comes out of the position of the locking groove, the stopper 41 is immediately lowered. Ok
When the clutch plate makes about one rotation and reaches the position of the locking member, the clutch plate 13 enters the locking groove 14 and the clutch plate 13 and the locking member 25 are locked again to operate as a so-called automatic one-rotation clutch. be able to. The operation timing of the solenoid 43 at this time may be determined by the rotation of the input shaft.

As is apparent from the above description and drawings, the locking member is attached to the locking member in order to rotate the locking member through about 180 ° due to the limited relative rotation between the support body and the stopper plate. The diameter (and thus the pitch radius) of the gear is smaller than the diameter (and thus the pitch radius) of the stopper gear.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show an example in which two engaging grooves 14, 14a are formed in the clutch plate 13 so as to be circumferentially separated by 180 degrees. In this example, if the stopper 41 is raised so that the stopper member 25 comes out from the one locking groove 14 and then the stopper is lowered immediately, when the clutch plate 13 makes a half rotation, the locking member 25 is locked in the other locking groove. It can also be used as an automatic half-rotation clutch because it enters and locks inside 14a. Furthermore, the number of locking grooves is 3, 4
Automatic 1/3 rotation clutch, automatic 1/4 if formed between individual pieces
It can also be used as a rotating clutch. Further, when a large load is to be provided, if the locking groove is provided twice or three times and the number of locking members is provided correspondingly, the clutch plate and the output shaft are two, three, etc. The purpose is achieved because they are connected via a plurality of locking members. In addition, for example, to use as an automatic one-rotation clutch when two locking grooves are provided,
The stopper and the protrusion may be disengaged when the input shaft rotates more than 180 degrees with respect to the output shaft.

Further, by changing the rotation ratio of the drive shaft of the timing belt and the input shaft (not shown), or changing the number of semi-circular grooves and the projections of the stopper plate as in the other embodiments, the drive shaft of the timing belt can be changed. Various combinations of operations can be performed by combining the driven one and the lever 45 fixed to the output shaft.

Although the engaging groove of the clutch plate is preferably an arcuate curved surface, it may be a trapezoidal groove 14 'having a wide opening as shown in FIG.

(G) Effect According to the present invention, the clutch can be engaged (engaged) and disengaged (disengaged) reliably and the switching operation can be smoothly performed even at a high speed operation without timing deviation.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of a positive clutch according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a state of a stopper plate, a support plate and a spring. And FIG. 4 shows a relationship between the clutch plate and the locking member, FIG. 4 shows a locking operation of the clutch plate and the locking member, FIG. 5 shows a modified example of the clutch plate, and FIG. 6 shows a locking groove. FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views of a conventional positive clutch showing a modified example of FIG. 4: Input shaft, 5: Output shaft 12: Clutch member, 14: Locking groove 25: Locking member, 26: Gear 27: Notch, 31: Stopper gear 34: Spring

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An input shaft and an output shaft which are independently rotatably arranged on the same axis, and a clutch member fixed to the input shaft and having at least one locking groove formed on the outer periphery thereof. A support body fixed to the output shaft and having a chamber for accommodating the clutch member, and rotatably supported on the support body about an axis parallel to the input shaft and located around the clutch member. And a locking groove that can be aligned with the locking groove of the clutch member is formed on the inner periphery of the chamber of the support, and the locking member locks the clutch member. In a positive clutch that extends through a space defined by the groove and the locking groove of the support, and the locking member is formed with a substantially semicircular notch at a position corresponding to the space, the positive clutch is provided with the output shaft. Output the stopper gear adjacent to the support A gear that meshes with the stopper gear is provided on the locking member, and a stopper plate is fixed to the stopper gear to fix the stopper plate and the support to the shaft center of the output shaft. Circumferentially deviating from each other in the circumferential direction about the center, a stopper pin is provided on the support body to abut the stopper plate to limit the rotation of the support body and the stopper plate in the opposite direction. The stopper can be selectively stopped, and the pitch radius of the stopper gear is larger than the pitch radius of the gear provided on the locking member so that the rotation angle of the locking member is larger than the rotation angle of the stopper plate. A positive clutch that is characterized by what it has done.