JPH08276763A - Hub clutch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To form a cover in thin thickness further with a filter surely assemblable, by providing a protruded part, respectively engaged with a housing and an outer cover, in an inner cover of constituting a hub clutch cover. CONSTITUTION: In a hub clutch, a clutch gear is engaged/disengaged to interruptedly connect power transmission by a pressure of air acting in a diaphragm and by a spring. An end cover of this clutch is constituted by an inner cover 105 and an outer cover 107, and at the time of mounting thereof in a housing, first a filter 127 is mounted on a corner part 107a in the cover 107. Successively, the inner cover 105 is fitted to elastically engage a protruded part 111 in an external diametric side with a recessed part 113 of the cover 107, further to fit the inner cover 105 to the housing, and by elastically engaging an internal diametric side protruded part 109 with a recessed part 121 of a top part 37, the cover can be mounted on the housing. Accordingly, thickness of the cover can be thin formed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hub clutch for connecting and disconnecting a drive axle and wheels of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of back clutch, for example, there is one described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-38227. This is a hub clutch that connects and disconnects the axles and wheels of a four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle.

This hub clutch is, as shown in FIG.
An outer race 201, an inner race 203, and balls 205 and 207 arranged between them form a unit bearing 209. A seal 211 is provided on the left side of the ball 205 and a seal 21 is provided on the right side of the ball 207.
3 is mounted between the races 201 and 203, respectively.

The outer race 201 is fixed to the axle housing 215 side of the vehicle body by bolts 217.

The inner race 203 has a flange portion 21.
9 and the hub portion 221 are integrally formed.

The brake disc 2 is attached to the flange portion 219.
23 is fixed by a bolt 225, and the wheel 227 is fixed by a bolt 229.

The axle 231 penetrates the inner race 203, a seal 233 is arranged between the axle 231 and the axle housing 215, and a gap 235 is provided between the axle 231 and the inner race 203. .

A drive gear 23 is provided at the tip of the axle 231.
7 are spline-connected, and a bearing 239 is provided between the drive gear 237 and the inner race 203.

A slide gear 241 is spline-connected to the inner circumference of the hub portion 221 of the inner race 203 so as to be movable left and right. On the inner circumference of the slide gear 241, a spline 245 is provided which can be engaged with and disengaged from the spline 243 provided on the outer circumference of the drive gear 247. The slide gear 241 is movable between a connection release position where the spline 245 does not engage with the spline 243 of the drive gear 237 and a connection release position where the spline 245 engages with the spline 243 of the drive gear 237.

The slide gear 241 is connected to the arm 249 of the retainer 247. The outer peripheral portion of the diaphragm 251 is press-fitted into the inner peripheral portion of the hub portion 221, and the inner peripheral portion is retained by the retainer 2
It is sandwiched between 47 and the plate 253 in an airtight manner. A cover 257 is screwed to the right end of the hub portion 221 with the filter 255 interposed therebetween. The cover 257 is provided with an air vent hole 259 through which air flows in and out through the filter 255. Between the cover 257 and the plate 253, a shift spring 261 for urging the slide gear 241 to a connecting position with the drive gear 237 via a retainer 247 is arranged.

A pipe joint 263 is attached to the axle housing 215 side. The pipe joint 263 communicates with the pressure chamber 265 via the corner space 235 on one end side and to the air pump 267 via a pipe on the other end side. It is connected.

According to such a hub clutch, when air is supplied from the air pump 267, this air flows into the pressure chamber 265 through the gap 235 from between the pipe joint 263 and the seals 211 and 233, and the air pressure is reduced. Thus, the diaphragm 251 is deflected outward in the axial direction against the urging force of the shift spring 261, and the slide gear 241 is moved to the connection release position (the position shown in the lower half of the figure) with the drive gear 237. As a result, the axle 231 and the hub portion 221 are separated, and the wheels rotate freely.

On the other hand, when the air pressure in the pressure chamber 265 is released, the diaphragm 251 is bent inward in the axial direction by the biasing force of the shift spring 261, and the slide gear 241 is moved.
Is moved to a connecting position with the drive gear 237 (a position shown in the upper half of the figure). Accordingly, the slide gear 241
Mesh with the drive gear 237, and the hub portion 2 is attached to the axle 231.
21 are connected, and the wheels are rotationally driven by the axle 231.

[0014]

However, in the conventional hub clutch described above, since the cover 257 is screwed to the hub portion 221, the wall thickness of the cover screw portion must be secured. Instead, the weight is increased.

Further, since the filter 255 is provided so as to be sandwiched between the outer end surface of the hub portion 221 and the cover 257, before the cover 257 is assembled, the filter
55 is not fixed only by being fitted in the cover 257, and it may fall off when the cover 257 is faced down. There was a problem of becoming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a hub clutch in which the thickness of the cover can be made thin, and the cover can be firmly and easily assembled, and the number of assembling steps can be reduced.

[0017]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 relates to a connecting position and a releasing position of a drive axle inserted in a hollow spindle on the vehicle body side and a housing on the wheel hub side. And a pressure chamber for moving the connecting member to one of the two positions of the connecting member by the deflection of the diaphragm when pressure is applied, and the connecting member to the other of the two positions. A hub clutch comprising an urging member for urging and an air chamber defined by a diaphragm and a cover of the housing,
The cover is composed of an inner cover and an outer cover, and a convex portion that elastically engages with the inner cover housing side and a convex portion that engages with the outer cover side are provided.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the hub clutch according to the first aspect, the convex portion that engages with the outer cover side is formed to elastically engage.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the hub clutch according to the first or second aspect, a recess formed on an outer end surface of the housing on an inner diameter side near a bolt for fixing the housing and an inner portion of the outer cover. A flange portion that can be fitted into the concave portion formed on the outer diameter side is provided on the end side, and the peripheral edge portion of the flange portion that is fitted into the concave portion is locked by a part of the head seat surface portion of the bolt. It is characterized in that it is configured to.

[0020]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when air pressure is supplied to the pressure chamber, the connecting member is moved to the connection releasing position by the bending of the diaphragm, and the connection between the drive axle and the housing on the wheel hub side is released. It

On the other hand, when the air pressure in the pressure chamber is released, the connecting member is moved to the connecting position by the urging force of the urging member, and the drive axle and the housing on the wheel hub side are connected.

The cover mounted on the housing is composed of an inner cover and an outer cover, the inner cover and the outer cover are engaged by the convex portions, and the inner cover and the housing are elastically engaged by the convex portions and assembled. Because of this, the thickness of the cover can be reduced.

Further, since the filter can be assembled in advance between the inner cover and the outer cover, the filter will not fall off when the cover is assembled, and the assembly will be easy and the number of assembling steps can be reduced. .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the inner cover and the outer cover are elastically engaged with each other by the projections, so that the both covers can be more firmly assembled.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the flange portion of the outer cover is fitted in the recess of the housing, and the peripheral edge portion of the flange portion is a part of the head seat surface portion of the bolt for fixing the housing. Since it is locked, the axial force of the bolt can be secured and the cover can be firmly assembled.

[0026]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a hub clutch according to an embodiment of the present invention taken along the line AA of FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a side view of the hub clutch according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a drive system of a vehicle provided with the hub clutch of FIG. 1.

Hub clutch 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention
Is arranged at the outer end of the drive shaft 3 (driving axle), as shown in FIG. When the clutch is engaged, on the one hand, the engine 5 rotationally drives the rear wheel 13 via the propeller shaft 7, the rear differential 9 and the drive shaft 11, and at the same time drives the propeller shaft 15, the front differential 17 and the drive shaft 3. The front wheel 19 is rotationally driven via the. On the other hand, when the clutch is disengaged, the engine 5
Drives only the rear wheel 13 to rotate.

In FIG. 1, the drive shaft 3 is rotatably supported in a hollow spindle 21 on the vehicle body side through a bearing 23. A drive gear 25 is spline-coupled to the outer end of the drive shaft 3, and is rotatably supported on the inner peripheral side of a housing 27 described later via a center plate 29 and a bearing 31. The inner end is connected to the constant velocity joint 33. An oil seal 35 is mounted between the drive shaft 3 and the spindle 21.

The housing 27 comprises a cylindrical top portion 37 and a wheel hub 39, which are integrally connected by a bolt 41. End cover 43 (cover) on top 37
Is provided. A wheel (not shown) is fixed to a flange 45 of the wheel hub 39 with a bolt 47 and a nut (not shown), and a brake disc 49 is attached to the bolt 5.
It is fixed by 1.

The housing 27 is rotatably supported on the outer peripheral side of the spindle 21 by bearings 53 and 55. A bearing 5 is provided on the outer periphery of the tip of the spindle 21.
3, 55 thrust adjusting nuts 57 are screwed into the groove 5
A detent 61 that engages 9 is fixed to the nut 57 with a bolt 63. The tip of the spindle 21 is positioned by a retaining ring 65 and a snap ring 67. An oil seal 69 is mounted on the inner end side of the housing 27 between the spindle 21 and the housing 27.

Inside the housing 27, a ring-shaped slide gear 71 (connecting member) is provided. The slide gear 71 is connected by a spline portion 73 provided on the top portion 37 so as to be movable in the axial direction.

Outer periphery of drive gear 25 and slide gear 7
Splines 75 and 77 are provided on the inner circumference of the shaft 1 so as to be engageable with and disengageable from each other. When the slide gear 71 moves to the position (connection position) shown in the lower half of FIG. 1, the splines 75 and 77 mesh with each other, and when the slide gear 71 moves to the position (connection release position) shown in the upper half of FIG. 75, 77
Is disengaged.

A plate 81 having a plurality of arms 79 is arranged between the drive shaft 3 and the end cover 43. The arm 79 movably inserts the toothless portion 83 provided in the spline portion 73 and the slide gear 7
It is connected to 1.

The diaphragm 85 is a flexible diaphragm having a retaining ring 87 at the outer edge thereof.
7 is airtightly attached to the inner periphery of the top portion 37, and the inner edge side is airtightly sandwiched between the plate 81 and the plate 89 supported thereby.

A spring 91 (urging member) for urging the slide gear 71 to the connecting position is arranged between the plate 89 and the end cover 43.

A pressure chamber 93 is defined in the housing 27 by the seal 69 and the diaphragm 85, and the diaphragm 8
An air chamber 95 is defined between 5 and the end cover 43.

Outer periphery of drive shaft 3 and spindle 2
An air flow path 99 is formed between the inner circumference of the first passage 1 and the pressure chamber 93 on one end side and the orifice 97 provided on the spindle 27 on the other end side. The orifice 97 is connected to the air pump 103 via the air hose 101.
It is connected to the.

The end cover 43 is the inner cover 10.
5 and the outer cover 107.

The inner cover 105 is formed of an elastic member such as spring steel, and has a plurality of arms 105a that engage with the outer periphery of the top portion 37 of the housing 27, and the outer ends of these arms 105a are bent toward the inner diameter side. Has a bent portion 105b,
Further, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, in the vicinity of the axial inner end of each arm 105 a, a convex portion 109 that is elastically engaged with the outer peripheral surface of the top portion 37 and is formed to project toward the inner diameter side, and the outer cover 10.
The convex portion 1 that is elastically engaged with the inner circumference of the outer peripheral portion 7 and is formed to project toward the outer diameter side
And 11 are provided.

The outer cover 107 is formed of a steel plate or the like, has a cylindrical portion 107a that engages with the outer circumference of the inner cover 105, and a side wall portion 107b at the outer end, and has a circumferential surface on the cylindrical portion 107a. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the convex portion 11 provided on each arm 105 a of the inner cover 105.
1 are provided with concave portions 113 for engaging with each other, and the cylindrical portion 1
A flange portion 115 bent toward the outer diameter side is formed at the axially inner end of 07a.

In the vicinity of the corner portion 105c of each arm 105a of the inner cover 105, a radial ventilation hole 117 communicating with the air chamber 95 is provided. Further, the corner portion 107c of the outer cover 107 is provided with a ventilation hole 119 in the radial direction communicating with the atmosphere.

On the other hand, on the outer peripheral surface of the top portion 37 of the housing 27, as shown in FIG.
A concave portion 121 that engages with the convex portion 109 provided on a is provided. Further, on the outer end surface of the top portion 37, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the annular recess 1 into which the flange portion 115 of the outer cover 107 is fitted on the inner diameter side near the bolt 41.
23 are provided.

In addition, the bolt 41 has a head portion 41a having a diameter ensuring a maximum bearing surface pressure and a recess portion 12 of the top portion 37.
Flange portion 11 of the outer cover 107 fitted in
5 is provided with an enlarged seat surface portion 125 which can be engaged on the peripheral edge portion 115a.

Corner portion 107c of the outer cover 107
Between the inner cover 105 and the corner portion 105c of the inner cover 105, a filter 12 formed of stainless steel powder or the like is provided.
7 is sandwiched.

Therefore, the diaphragm 85 is installed in the air chamber 9
It is possible to flex freely without being hindered by the internal pressure of 5, and it is possible to prevent foreign matter such as water and dust from entering the air chamber 95.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

When air is supplied from the air pump 103, this air flows into the pressure chamber 93 through the orifice 97 and the air flow path 99, and this air pressure causes the diaphragm 85 to resist the urging force of the spring 91 in the axial direction. The slide gear 71 is bent to the outside and is moved to a position for releasing the connection with the drive gear 25. As a result, the engagement between the slide gear 71 and the drive gear 25 is released, the drive shaft 3 and the wheel hub 39 are separated, and the front wheels 19 rotate freely.

On the other hand, when the air pressure in the pressure chamber 93 is released, the diaphragm 85 is urged by the urging force of the spring 91.
Is slid inward in the axial direction, and the slide gear 71 is moved to the position where it is connected to the drive gear 25. As a result, the slide gear 71 meshes with the drive gear 25, the wheel hub 39 is connected to the drive shaft 3, and the front wheel 19 is rotationally driven by the drive shaft 3.

The slide gear 71 is moved by a manual operation from the driver's seat or an automatic operation according to road surface conditions and steering conditions.

In the hub clutch 1 of this embodiment, the end cover 43 is connected to the inner cover 105 and the outer cover 10.
7, the inner cover 105 is provided with a convex portion 109 projectingly formed on the inner diameter side that elastically engages the outer peripheral surface of the top portion 37 of the housing 27, and the outer diameter that elastically engages the inner peripheral surface of the outer cover 107. A convex portion 111 that is formed to project to the side is provided. Also, the outer cover 107
In addition, a concave portion 113 that engages with the convex portion 109 of the inner cover 105 is provided, and a flange portion 115 is provided.

Thus, when the inner cover 105 and the outer cover 107 are mounted on the housing 27,
First, the filter 127 is attached to the corner portion 107a in the outer cover 107, and then the inner cover 105 is fitted to elastically engage the convex portion 111 on the outer diameter side with the concave portion 113 of the outer cover 107. A unit of the cover 43 in which the filter 127 and the inner cover 105 are assembled to 107 can be configured. Therefore, the filter 127 can be fixed in advance.

Next, the inner cover 105 of the unitized cover 43 is fitted into the housing 27 so that the convex portion 109 on the inner diameter side is elastically engaged with the concave portion 121 of the top portion 37, and the flange portion 115 is the concave portion 123 on the end face of the top portion 37.
After that, the bolt 41 is screwed into the housing 27, and the enlarged seat surface portion 125 of the head portion 41a allows the flange portion 1
The inner cover 105 and the outer cover 107 are attached to the housing 2 by locking the peripheral portion 115a of the housing 15.
Can be attached to 7.

Therefore, the thickness of the cover 43 can be reduced, the weight of the housing 27 can be reduced, and the filter 127 can be fixed in advance when the cover is assembled, so that the cover 43 does not fall off and the cover 43 is simply removed. Since it can be mounted simply by fitting it in 27, assembly is easy and easy, and the number of assembly steps can be reduced.

Further, since the peripheral edge portion 115a of the flange portion 115 of the outer cover 107 is locked by the enlarged seat surface portion 125 provided on the head portion 41a having a diameter ensuring the maximum seat surface pressure of the bolt 41, The axial force of the bolt 41 can be ensured and the cover 43 can be firmly assembled without being affected by the warp generated in the flange portion 115 of the outer cover 107 during press molding.

[0056]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the invention of claim 1, the cover mounted on the housing is composed of the inner cover and the outer cover, and the inner cover and the outer cover are formed by the convex portions. Since the inner cover and the housing are engaged with each other and elastically engaged with each other by the convex portion, the cover can be made thin.

Since the filter can be assembled in advance between the inner cover and the outer cover, the filter does not fall off when the cover is assembled, and the assembly is easy and the number of assembly steps is reduced. it can.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the inner cover and the outer cover are elastically engaged with each other by the projections, the both covers can be firmly assembled.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the flange portion of the outer cover is fitted in the recess of the housing, and the peripheral edge portion of the flange portion is formed by a part of the head seat surface portion of the bolt for fixing the housing. Since it is locked, the axial force of the bolt can be secured and the cover can be firmly assembled.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a hub clutch according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a side view with a part of the hub clutch according to an embodiment of the present invention omitted.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a drive system of a vehicle provided with the hub clutch of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an engagement relationship between an inner cover and a housing.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a cover assembled state.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a hub clutch according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Hub Clutch 3 Drive Shaft (Drive Axle) 21 Hollow Spindle 27 Housing 39 Wheel Hub 41 Bolt 41a Head 43 End Cover (Cover) 71 Slide Gear (Coupling Member) 85 Diaphragm 91 Spring (Biasing Member) 93 Pressure Chamber 95 Air Chamber 105 Inner cover 107 Outer cover 109 Convex portion 111 Convex portion 115 Flange portion 115a Peripheral portion 123 Recessed portion 127 Filter

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A drive axle inserted into a hollow spindle on the vehicle body side, a connecting member movable to a connecting position and a disconnecting position of a housing on the wheel hub side, and a diaphragm partition wall for supplying pressure. Between the pressure chamber that moves the connecting member to one of the two positions of the connecting member due to the deflection of the diaphragm when received, the biasing member that biases the connecting member to the other of the two positions, and the cover of the housing by the diaphragm. A hub clutch comprising an air chamber formed, wherein the cover comprises an inner cover and an outer cover,
A hub clutch, wherein the inner cover is provided with a convex portion that elastically engages with the housing side and a convex portion that engages with the outer cover side. 2. The hub clutch according to claim 1, wherein
A hub clutch, wherein a convex portion engaging with the outer cover side is elastically engaged. 3. The hub clutch according to claim 1, wherein a recess formed on the outer end surface of the housing on the inner diameter side near a bolt fixing the housing and an outer diameter on the inner end side of the outer cover. A flange portion that can be fitted into the concave portion that is formed toward one side, and the peripheral portion of the flange portion that is fitted into the concave portion is configured to be locked by a part of the head seat surface portion of the bolt. Hub clutch characterized by.