JPH09169223A - Hub clutch device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a changeover between a two-wheel drive state and a four- wheel drive state possible by a hub clutch device mounted between a rear wheel driving shaft and a hub of an FF-base four-wheel drive vehicle and improve the durability of seal of a connecting member by using a pressure fluid only in the changeover, and maintaining atmospheric pressure after the changeover. SOLUTION: A one-way clutch 24 is built in between a slider 17 fitted in an axially movable state to the periphery of a rear wheel fitting shaft 11, and an outer ring 20 direct-coupled to a rear wheel driving shaft 5. A four-wheel drive state of an external tooth gear 22 being constantly meshed with an internal tooth gear 23 of the outer ring 20 is thereby held, and a two-wheel drive state is held by the attraction of an end plate to a magnet. The four-wheel drive state and the two-wheel drive state are switched by feeding a pressure fluid to the slider 17 only for the time set by a timer.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hub clutch device that is mounted on a rear wheel of a wheel drive vehicle and switches between transmission and interruption of driving force between an axle and a rear wheel hub.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an FF-based (front wheel drive) four-wheel drive vehicle has a full-time structure in which front wheels and rear wheels are directly connected.

[0003]

By the way, the full-time type in which the front wheels and the rear wheels are directly connected cannot switch between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive depending on the road condition, and therefore, when driving on a flat road surface. There is a problem that fuel consumption cannot be saved and noise from the drive system is generated.

Further, in order to enable separation of the rear wheels in an FF-based four-wheel drive vehicle, it is conceivable to incorporate a hub clutch device attached to the front wheels of the four-wheel drive vehicle into the rear wheels for use. In the above hub clutch device, the slide gear fitted to the axle is movable in the axial direction, the gear is engaged and disengaged from the wheel hub, and a four-wheel drive state in which the axle and the wheel hub are directly connected when engaged is set, It has a structure in which it is in a two-wheel drive state when it is disengaged, and a pressure fluid, for example, air pressure is used to switch the drive.

However, when the movement of the slide gear is controlled by air pressure, it is necessary to maintain the air pressure at all times in order to maintain the state of either four-wheel drive or two-wheel drive. Also, there is a problem in that pressure is constantly applied to the seal provided on the spindle portion and the seal is apt to be worn out and inferior in durability.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to remotely switch between a two-wheel drive mode and a four-wheel drive mode by disconnecting and connecting the rear wheels in an FF-based four-wheel drive vehicle, and to perform four-wheel drive and two-wheel drive. Hub clutch that can improve the durability of the seal by applying the fluid pressure only during the switching of the drive for the time required for the switching and eliminating the need to hold the coupling member by the pressure of the fluid at other times. To provide a device.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 connects and disconnects the axle and the wheel hub between the rear wheel axle and the wheel hub of a four-wheel drive vehicle. In a hub clutch device provided with a hub clutch so that the rear wheels of a four-wheel drive vehicle can be separated by remote control of the hub clutch, the hub clutch includes a drive member connected to the rear wheel axle and a driven member connected to the wheel hub. The member is rotatably fitted in and out, and a moving means for moving the driven member to a position where the driven member is connected to the driving member and a position where the driven member is separated by the fluid pressure is provided between the driving member and the driven member. The configuration is such that the pressure fluid acting on both sides is supplied and discharged by two independent independent paths.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the hub clutch is a drive member that is connected to the rear wheel axle,
A driven member connected to the wheel hub is rotatably fitted in and out, a one-way clutch is incorporated between the driving member and the driven member, and the driven member is provided between the driving member and the driven member by fluid pressure, A moving means for moving the driving member to a position where the driving member is connected and a position where the driving member is disconnected is provided, and a structure is adopted in which supply and discharge of the pressure fluid acting on both sides of the moving means are performed by two independent paths. .

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the action time of the pressure fluid on the two paths is set by a timer.

Here, as the fluid for moving the moving means, either one or both of negative pressure and positive pressure of air is used, and the pressure is kept for a time set by a timer only when switching between four-wheel drive and two-wheel drive. The fluid is caused to act on the end surface of the moving means, and after switching, the pressure is returned to atmospheric pressure. The four-wheel drive state is held by the pressing elasticity of the spring, and the two-wheel drive state is held by adhering the driven member to the magnet of the end plate.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
This will be described together with the illustrated example.

FIG. 1 shows a wheel drive system of an FF-based four-wheel drive vehicle. In FIG. 1, 1 and 1 are front wheels driven by an engine 2, and 3 and 3 are rear wheels. The rear wheels 3 and 3 are attached to the rear drive shafts 5 and 5 on both sides of the rear differential 4 via a hub clutch device 6, and a constant velocity joint 7 is provided in the middle of the drive shafts 5 and 5.
The rear differential 4 is connected to the engine 2 through a shaft 9 and a multi-plate clutch 8 having a center differential function.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show the first part of the hub clutch device 6.
In the same drawing, a rear wheel mounting shaft 11 is connected to an outer end portion of the drive shaft 5 via a constant velocity joint 7 with a hub clutch device 6.

The rear hub 12 is externally fitted and fixed so as to rotate integrally with the rear hub 12 at a position between the middle portion and the outer end portion of the rear wheel mounting shaft 11, and the rear hub 12 is supported by a rear knuckle 13 and a bearing 14.
A wheel 15 of the rear wheel 3 is fixed to the outer end portion of the rear hub 12 by being rotatably supported via.

The hub clutch device 6 has a slider 17 at a position on the inner end side from a flange 16 provided in the middle of the rear wheel mounting shaft 11 so as to be integrally movable in the axial direction by a spline groove 18 in the rotational direction. Cylindrical part 1 that is fitted and connected to the rear knuckle 13 so as to be coaxial with the rear wheel mounting shaft 11.
An outer ring 20 is rotatably incorporated into the inside of the bearing 9 through a bearing 21.

The external gear 2 is attached to the outer diameter surface of the slider 17.
2, an internal gear 23 is provided on the inner diameter surface of the outer ring 20, and a one-way clutch 24 is incorporated between the outer diameter surface of the slider 17 and the inner diameter surface of the outer ring 20.

As the slider 17 moves in the axial direction, the external gear 22 is brought into a position where the external gear 22 meshes with the internal gear 23 and a position where the slider 22 separates from the internal gear 23. The wheel mounting shaft 11 is directly connected, and the rotation of the outer ring 20 is transmitted to the rear wheel mounting shaft 11.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the one-way clutch 24 has an inner ring 25 integrally fitted in the slider 17 in the rotational direction so as to be externally fitted so as to allow the slider 17 to move in the axial direction. Two annular retainers 26, 27 having different diameters are provided between the cylindrical surfaces 20a, 25a provided so as to face the inner ring 25 and the outer ring 20, and pockets 28, 29 provided in the respective retainers 26, 27 are respectively provided with sprags. Incorporating 30
The retainers 26 and 27 and the inner ring 25 are formed by applying a moment to the sprags 30 with a spring 31 so that the retainer 26 and 27 and the inner ring 25 are separated from each other by the metal 33 and 34 provided between the internal gear 23 and the retaining ring 32. It is held so as not to move in the axial direction with respect to 20.

In the one-way clutch 24 having the above structure, when the rotation of the outer ring 20 exceeds the rotation of the inner ring 25 (wheel hub), the sprag 30 tilts and the cylindrical surfaces 20a, 25a are rotated.
To transmit torque. On the contrary, when the rotation of the inner ring 25 exceeds the rotation of the outer ring 20, the inner ring 2 is rotated with respect to each sprag 30.
5 is in a free running (over running) state, and torque is not transmitted. In this embodiment, the rotation direction in which the one-way clutch 24 is locked is set to the rotation direction during forward traveling of the vehicle.

Cylindrical portion 1 provided on the rear knuckle 13
The circular end plate 35 of the constant velocity joint 7 is coaxially housed in the rear end opening of the ring member 9, and the outer circumference of the end plate 35 and the inner circumference of the tubular portion 19 are sealed by a seal 36.
The outer ring 20 and the outer ring 20 are connected by a bolt 37 so as to rotate together. Therefore, the outer wheel 20 is directly connected to the rear wheel drive shaft 5 via the constant velocity joint 7.

At the rear end of the slider 17, moving means 38 for moving the slider 17 in the axial direction by supplying and discharging the pressure fluid is provided.

The moving means 38 fixes an end plate 39 of a magnetic material that moves in the axial direction integrally with the slider 17 to the rear end face of the slider 17, and the outer peripheral portion of the end plate 39 and the inner ring 20. The outer ring 2 is provided with a rubber bellows 40 on the circumferential surface.
Pressure chamber 41 that acts on the inside of the inner end side of 0 on the outer surface of the end plate 39.
And a pressure chamber 42 acting on the inner surface of the end plate 39, and a spring 43 for compressing the slider 17 constantly outward is contracted between the end plate 39 and the circular end plate 35 of the constant velocity joint 7. In the circular end plate 35, a magnet 44 that attracts and holds the retracted end plate 39 is fixed to the overlapping surface of the end plate 39.

The slider 17 has an end plate 39 when the external gear 22 is in the retracted position separated from the internal gear 23.
Is attracted to the magnet 44, the retracted position is held, and when the external gear 22 is in the forward position meshed with the internal gear 23, it is pressed and held by the spring 43. Therefore, the magnet 44 is set to have a magnetic force that overcomes the reaction force of the compressed spring 43 and holds the slider 17 in the retracted position.

Applying a pressure fluid to the moving means 38,
Since the slider 17 is moved in the axial direction to switch between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, two independent air passages 4 are provided.
5 and 46 are provided.

The first passage 45 is for switching the slider 17 in the four-wheel drive state to the two-wheel drive state, and is provided with the passage 45a provided in the rear knuckle 13 and the outer ring 2.
The passage 45 provided between the outer diameter surface of 0 and the inner diameter surface of the tubular portion 19.
b and a radial passage 45c provided at the inner end of the outer ring 20.
And the passage 45c communicates with the inner pressure chamber 42 of the end plate 39.

The second air passage 46 is for switching the slider 17 in the two-wheel drive state to the four-wheel drive state, and the passage 46 provided in the rear knuckle 13 is provided.
a, a passage 46b formed by a space between the inner diameter surface of the outer ring 20 and the outer diameter surface of the rear wheel mounting shaft 11 and the slider 17, and communicating with the pressure chamber 41 on the outer surface side of the end plate 39. In the passage 46, the clearance portions of the spline groove connecting the slider 17 and the inner ring 25 and the meshing portion of the external gear 22 and the internal gear 23 are part of the passage.

A seal 47 seals between the outer end of the outer ring 20 and the tubular portion 19.

FIG. 6 shows the first and second air passages 4 described above.
5 shows an operation control device that is connected to the control units 5 and 46 and controls switching of the slider 17 between the two-wheel drive state and the four-wheel drive state.

In the control device shown in FIG. 6, a negative pressure source 51
Denotes an intake manifold, a pump and a compressor of an engine, and a negative pressure pipe 52 connected to a negative pressure source 51.
Is provided with a check valve 53 and a negative pressure tank 54 in the middle, and a bifurcated distal end is connected to a first solenoid valve 55 and a second solenoid valve 56, respectively.

When an intake manifold is used as the negative pressure source 51, since a negative pressure cannot be obtained when the engine is accelerated, the negative pressure tank 54 is effective for preventing the occurrence of a shortage of negative pressure air.

The first solenoid valve 55 moves from the two-wheel drive state to 4
It is for switching to a wheel drive state, and the tip of the first pipe 57 branched from the electromagnetic valve 55 is provided at the passage 4 of the second air passage 46 in the hub clutch device 6.
6a is connected.

The second solenoid valve 56 is for switching from the four-wheel drive state to the two-wheel drive state, and the tip of the second pipe 58 branched from this solenoid valve 56 has a hub clutch device. The first air passage 45 and the passage 45a are connected to each other.

A pipe 59 for atmospheric pressure is connected to the outlet sides of the two solenoid valves 55 and 56, and the first solenoid valve 55 connects the negative pressure pipe 52 and the first pipe 57 to each other when energized to energize them. When the pressure is cut off, the communication between the negative pressure pipe 52 and the first pipe 57 is cut off, and the first pipe 57 and the atmospheric pressure pipe 59 are connected.

The second solenoid valve 56 connects the negative pressure pipe 52 and the second pipe 58 when energized, and shuts off the communication between the negative pressure pipe 52 and the second pipe 58 when the energization is cut off. 58 and the pipe 59 for atmospheric pressure will be connected.

In order to operate both solenoid valves 55 and 56 separately, a switching hub lock switch 61 and a first solenoid valve 55 are provided in the middle of a circuit connecting the power source 60 and both solenoid valves 55 and 56. A first timer 62 and a second timer 63 for the second solenoid valve 56 are provided, and the operation of the switch 61 switches the energization of both solenoid valves 55, 56, and the timers 62, 63 are two-wheel drive. Slider 1 only for the time required to switch between the four-wheel drive state and the four-wheel drive state
The energization time is set so that negative pressure acts on the end plate 39 of No. 7.

The hub clutch device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is constructed as described above. Next, the running state of the wheels using this device will be described.

In the two-wheel drive state, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 (A), the end plate 39 is attracted to the magnet 44, the spring 43 is compressed to move the slider 17 inward, and the external gear 22 Is separated from the internal gear 23.

In this state, the one-way clutch 24 is free running, and the axle (driving member) and the wheel hub (driven member) are completely disengaged, so that the torque of the wheel hub is not transmitted to the axle.

For this reason, the driving force is not transmitted from both the engine and the tire to the rear wheel axle 5 whose power is separated by the multi-disc clutch 8, and only the front wheel 1 travels two wheels. The drive system from 8 to the rear wheel axle 5 can be stopped. When the multi-plate clutch 8 is switched on in this state, torque is transmitted to the rear wheels 3 by the one-way clutch 24, and free running is performed when the rear wheels 3 exceed the rotation of the drive shaft 5. It will be a part-time four-wheel drive.

FIG. 6 shows the state of the operation control device at this time. When both the first and second electromagnetic valves 55 and 56 are de-energized,
The first and second pipes 57 and 58 with respect to the negative pressure pipe 52.
It is in the phase to cut off the communication of the
The air passages 45 and 46 and the pressure chambers 41 and 42 are both at atmospheric pressure.

Next, the 4 directly connected from the above-mentioned two-wheel drive state.
In order to switch to the driving mode, when the multiple lock 8 is turned on and the hub lock switch 61 is set to the four-wheel drive side as shown in FIG. 7, the first solenoid valve 55 is operated via the first timer 62. Is energized, and the solenoid valve 55 turns the negative pressure pipe 52
And the first pipe 57 are communicated with each other, and the negative pressure of the negative pressure source 51 is the first
It acts on the outer pressure chamber 41 from the second air passage 46 through the pipe 57.

As shown in FIG. 3B, when the air in the sealed pressure chamber 41 is sucked by the second air passage 46, the negative pressure acting on the end plate 39 causes the slider 17 to be attracted by the magnet 44. The slider 1 is struck and separated from the circular end plate 45, and the slider 1 is pressed by the pressing force of the spring 43.
7 is moved outward, and the external gear 22 is meshed with the internal gear 23 of the outer ring 20. As a result, the rear wheel mounting shaft 11 and the outer wheel 20 are directly connected to each other, and a four-wheel drive state is established, so that engine braking can be simultaneously applied to the front and rear wheels.

After the elapse of the set time of the timer 62, the energization of the first solenoid valve 55 is cut off, the solenoid valve 55 cuts off the communication between the negative pressure pipe 52 and the first pipe 57, and the first pipe 57. The phase is such that the pipe 59 on the atmosphere side is in communication, and the pressure inside the pressure chamber 41 is atmospheric pressure.

From the directly connected four-wheel drive state, 2
To switch to the wheel drive state, the hub lock switch 61 is switched to the two wheel drive side as shown in FIG. This causes the second solenoid valve 56 to pass through the second timer 63.
The solenoid valve 56 is connected to the negative pressure pipe 52 and the second
The negative pressure of the negative pressure source 51 acts on the inner pressure chamber 42 from the second pipe 58 through the first air passage 45 in a phase in which the pipe 58 communicates.

Due to the negative pressure acting on the inner pressure chamber 42,
The external gear 22 may be disengaged from the internal gear 23 by overcoming the spring 43 and moving the slider 17 inward, and causing the magnet 44 to attract the end plate 39.

The second timer 63 turns off the power supply to the second solenoid valve 56 after the lapse of the set time, and the solenoid valve 56 cuts off the communication between the negative pressure pipe 52 and the second pipe 58,
The pipe 58 and the pipe 59 are communicated with each other to bring the pressure chamber 42 to the atmospheric pressure.

As described above, in order to switch between the two-wheel drive state and the four-wheel drive state, a negative pressure may be applied to either of the pressure chambers 41 or 42 on both sides of the end plate 39, and the two-wheel drive state may be changed. The end plate 39 is held by attraction to the magnet 44, and the four-wheel drive state is held by the pressing force of the spring 43.

Therefore, it is not necessary to apply a negative pressure after the switching operation, and the air passages and the pressure chambers 41 and 42 can be set to return to the atmospheric pressure after the switching operation.
The pressure acting on the hub seal and the spindle seal can be reduced in a short time, and the durability of these seals and seal rings can be improved.

The timers 62 and 63 and the solenoid valve 5
5 and 56 do not operate simultaneously on both sides, and even if the hub lock switch 61 is switched during operation, the operation with the last switch is performed. Further, although the negative pressure is used for switching between the two-wheel drive and the four-wheel drive, positive pressure may be used or a combination of positive pressure and negative pressure may be used.

Next, a second embodiment of the hub clutch device 6 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B will be described. The second embodiment is a one-way clutch 24 according to the first embodiment.
Is omitted, and the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described.

In the second embodiment, the slider 17 also serves as the inner ring, and the external gear 22 thereof is the internal gear 2 of the outer ring 20.
It becomes a position where it meshes with 3 and a position separated from it, and between the flange 16 of the rear wheel mounting shaft 11 and the outer end of the slider 17,
It has a structure in which a spring 48 for constantly urging the slider 17 inward is contracted.

The spring 48 is the spring 43.
It is set to be less elastic.

FIG. 4 (A) shows a two-wheel drive state, in which the slider 17 is attracted by the magnet 44 so that the external gear 2
2 is held in a position separated from the internal gear 23, and the rear wheels are completely free from the rear wheel drive shaft.

FIG. 4B shows a four-wheel drive state in which the external gear 22 of the slider 17 meshes with the internal gear 23 and the outer ring 20 and the rear wheel mounting shaft 11 are directly connected.

Also in the second embodiment, the movement of the slider 17 is controlled by the operation control device shown in the first embodiment.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention, the FF
Since the transmission and interruption of the driving force of the rear wheels in the four-wheel drive vehicle of the base is switched, it becomes possible to select the two-wheel drive and the four-wheel drive of the four-wheel drive vehicle of the FF base, depending on the road condition. Driving the vehicle has the effect of saving fuel consumption, suppressing noise generation from the drive system, and realizing four-wheel driving that can accurately respond to changes in the road surface.

Since the operating time of the pressure fluid for switching between the two-wheel drive state and the four-wheel drive state is set by the timer, the pressure fluid is used only during the switching operation, and the atmospheric pressure is restored after the switching operation. Therefore, the pressure fluid can be used for a short time, there is no problem in the durability of the hub seal, the spindle seal, and the seal of the coupling member, and the conventional seal can be used as it is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an example of mounting a hub clutch device on an FF-based four-wheel drive vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the hub clutch device according to the first embodiment in a two-wheel drive state.

FIG. 3 (A) is a longitudinal sectional view of a two-wheel drive state in which an essential part is enlarged, and FIG. 3 (B) is a longitudinal sectional view of a four-wheel drive state.

FIG. 4A is a longitudinal sectional view of a two-wheel drive state in which an essential part of a hub clutch device according to a second embodiment is enlarged, and FIG. 4B is a longitudinal sectional view of a four-wheel drive state.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing a structure and a sprag of a one-way clutch.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an operation control device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state at the time of switching to the above-described four-wheel drive.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state at the time of switching to the above two-wheel drive.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Rear Wheel 5 Drive Shaft 6 Hub Clutch Device 7 Constant Velocity Joint 8 Multi Disc Clutch 11 Rear Wheel Mounting Shaft 12 Rear Hub 13 Rear Knuckle 15 Wheel 17 Slider 19 Cylindrical Part 20 Outer Ring 22 External Gear 23 Internal Gear 24 One-way Clutch 25 Inner ring 26, 27 Cage 30 Sprag 35 Circular end plate 38 Moving means 39 End plate 40 Rubber bellows 41, 42 Pressure chamber 43 Spring 44 Magnet 45, 46 Air passage

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A hub clutch for connecting and disconnecting the axle and the wheel hub is provided between a rear wheel axle of a four-wheel drive vehicle and a wheel hub, and the rear wheel of the four-wheel drive vehicle is remotely controlled by the hub clutch. In the hub clutch device that can be disengaged, the hub clutch rotatably fits a driving member connected to the rear wheel axle and a driven member connected to the wheel hub inward and outward, and between the driving member and the driven member. Provided with a moving means for moving the driven member to a position where the driven member is connected to the driving member and a position where the driven member is separated by the pressure of the fluid, and the pressure fluid acting on both sides of the moving means is supplied and discharged by two independent paths. Hub clutch device. 2. A hub clutch in which a drive member connected to a rear wheel axle and a driven member connected to a wheel hub are rotatably fitted in and out, and a one-way clutch is incorporated between the drive member and the driven member. A moving means for moving the driven member between the driving member and the driven member by the pressure of the fluid to a position where the driven member is connected to the driving member and a position where the driven member is separated from the driven member. The hub clutch device according to claim 1, wherein the hub clutch device is formed so as to have two independent paths. 3. The hub clutch device according to claim 1, wherein the action time of the pressure fluid on the two paths is set by a timer.