JPH11280789A - Self-aligning type clutch release bearing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a cost, improve assembling property, and realize the surer sealing function of a ball bearing. SOLUTION: A ball bearing 3 has an inner ring 3a having a counter bore on another end side of a track surface, an outer ring 3b, plural balls 3c interposed between the track surfaces of the rings 3a and 3b, and angularly contacting the respective track surfaces, and seal members 3e and 3f fixed to the inner diameter surface of the ring 3b. The accuracy of the counter bore can be increased by concurrently grinding the track surface of the ring 3a of the bearing 3 and the counter bore.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a self-aligning clutch release bearing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As conceptually shown in FIG. 4, a clutch release bearing device A is disposed between an engine (output shaft 39) of a manual transmission vehicle and a transmission 32, and operates a clutch pedal (not shown). It is pressed by a release fork 34 that swings in conjunction with the transmission, and slides axially on the front cover 33 toward the engine, thereby temporarily interrupting transmission of the rotational force of the engine to the transmission 32.

A clutch release bearing device A as described above
As shown in FIG. 5, for example, the sleeve 11 is slidably inserted on the front cover 33, the ball bearing 13 is inserted outside the sleeve 11 with a gap therebetween, and the release 11 is mounted on the flange 11a of the sleeve 11. The side plate 12 is in contact with the fork 34, the cover 15 covers the ball bearing 13, and the corrugated washer 14 is interposed between one end 15 a of the cover 15 and the ball bearing 13. The other end 15b of the cover 15 is connected to the outer peripheral portion of the side plate 12 (release fork 34).
Between the one end 15a of the cover 15 and the side plate 12, the corrugated washer 14, the outer ring 13b of the ball bearing 13, and the flange 11a of the sleeve 11 are integrally formed. Are pinched.

The seal 13e and the shield 13f for sealing the ball bearing 13 have their outer diameter sides fitted in seal mounting grooves 13b3, 16b4 formed on the inner diameter surfaces of both ends of the outer ring 13b, and their inner diameter sides are formed on the inner ring 13a. Are arranged in contact with or in close proximity to the sealing surfaces 13a3, 13a4 provided on the outer diameter surface.

[0005] When the clutch pedal is depressed, the release fork 34 swings counterclockwise in the figure, comes into contact with the side plate 12, and presses and slides the clutch release bearing A toward the engine in the axial direction. Thereby, the inner ring 13 of the ball bearing 13
Abuts against the diaphragm spring 35 of the clutch device, and furthermore, the deflection of the diaphragm spring 35 causes the pressure plate 38 pressing the clutch disk 36 to the flywheel 37 to move the clutch disk 3
6, the torque of the output shaft 39 of the engine is temporarily disconnected from the transmission 32.

If there is a deviation between the shaft center on the engine side and the shaft center on the transmission side, the ball bearing 13 of the clutch release bearing device A slides in the radial direction according to the deviation amount. As a result, the misalignment is automatically adjusted.

[0007]

In the conventional products, since the seal mounting groove of the outer ring and the sealing surface of the inner ring surface are formed by turning, a misalignment occurs in the seal mounting groove and the sealing surface.
There is a possibility that the seal interference and the labyrinth gap may fluctuate, resulting in deterioration of the sealing performance.

In this type of self-aligning clutch release bearing device, further improvement in assemblability and cost reduction are required.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to reduce the cost and improve the assemblability, and to realize a more reliable sealing function of a ball bearing.

[0010]

To achieve the above object, a self-aligning clutch release bearing device according to the present invention comprises: an inner ring having a counterbore at one end of a raceway surface; an outer ring having a raceway surface; A ball bearing having a plurality of balls interposed between the raceway surface of the inner ring and the raceway surface of the outer ring and in angular contact with each other, a ball bearing having a sealing member fixed to the inner diameter surface of the outer ring, and inserted inside the ball bearing And a side plate that extends radially outward from the outer periphery of the sleeve, and a ball bearing abuts on one surface in a radially slidable manner, and a release fork abuts on the other surface. And elastic means for pressing and holding the
The raceway surface of the inner ring and the counterbore are simultaneously ground.

In this case, a seal surface which comes close to or in contact with the seal member may be provided on the end face side of the counter bore of the inner race, and the seal surface may be ground simultaneously with the raceway surface and the counter bore.

In any of the above cases, it is preferable to provide a counterbore at one end of the raceway surface of the outer race, and to simultaneously grind the raceway surface of the outer race and the counterbore.

[0013] A seal press-fit portion may be provided on the end face side of the counterbore of the outer ring, where the seal member is press-fitted and fixed, and the seal press-fit portion may be ground simultaneously with the raceway surface of the outer race and the counter bore.

The above self-aligning clutch release bearing is
An outer flange portion that contacts the rotating member of the clutch device is provided at one end, an inner ring made of a steel plate press having a counter bore at the other end of the raceway surface, and an inward flange portion is provided at one end, and the raceway surface is provided. An outer ring made of a steel plate press having a counter bore at the other end of the outer ring, interposed between the raceway surface of the inner ring and the raceway surface of the outer ring, and a plurality of balls that make angular contact with each other, and one end of the inner diameter surface of the outer ring. A ball bearing having a seal member press-fitted on the other end side, a sleeve inserted inside the ball bearing, and an outer radial direction extending from an outer periphery of the sleeve, and a flange portion of an outer ring of the ball bearing is provided on one surface thereof. A side plate made of a steel plate press that abuts on the release fork abutting on the other side in a slidable manner in the radial direction, and elastic means for elastically pressing and holding the outer ring of the ball bearing against one surface of the side plate may be provided. .

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The self-aligning clutch release bearing device shown in FIG. 1 is similar to the clutch release bearing device A shown in FIG.
9) and the transmission (32),
The operation of the release fork (34) causes the engine to slide axially on the front cover (33) toward the engine, thereby temporarily interrupting the transmission of the torque of the engine to the transmission (32).

The clutch release bearing device of this embodiment includes a sleeve 1 made of resin, a side plate 2 integrally formed with the sleeve 1 (insert molding), and an outer periphery 1a of the sleeve 1 and one end surface 2a of the side plate 2. The ball bearing 3 is provided and is elastically held by elastic means, for example, a disc spring 4.

The sleeve 1 is a substantially cylindrical molded body (such as an injection molded body) made of a resin material. Inner circumference 1b of sleeve 1
Is slidably inserted into the front cover (33).
A tapered guide surface 1a1 is formed at one end of the outer periphery 1a of the sleeve 1 at a corner thereof, and a stopper 1a2 projecting toward the outer diameter is formed at a substantially central portion (closer to the other end), and at the other end. The side plate 2 is integrally protruded. The guide surface 1a1 is provided on an outer periphery 1a of the sleeve 1 for assembling a ball bearing 3 and a disc spring 4 described later.
Has a function of guiding the small-diameter end of the disc spring 4 when extrapolating the disc spring. Further, the stopper portion 1a2 has a function of engaging with the small-diameter end of the disc spring 4 in a state after the completion of the assembly to prevent the displacement thereof. The stopper 1a2 is narrow, and one end of the stopper 1a2 is an obtuse inclined wall, and the other end to which the small diameter end of the disc spring 4 is engaged is a vertical wall or a slightly acute inclined wall. The inclined wall at one end has a function of guiding the small-diameter end of the disc spring 4 at the time of installation. Further, a circumferential groove is provided continuously with the innermost diameter portion of the wall surface on the other end side, and the outer diameter of the circumferential groove is slightly smaller than the outer circumference 1a on the one end side.

The side plate 2 is a ring made of a steel plate press, and is integrally insert-molded around the other end of the sleeve 1 made of resin. A flange portion 3b1 of an outer ring 3b of a ball bearing 3, which will be described later, abuts on one end surface 2a of the side plate 2 slidably in the radial direction.
On the other end face side, contact portions 2b with which the release fork (34) comes into contact are disposed, for example, at 180 ° facing positions. The side plate 2 of this embodiment is a cold-rolled steel plate, for example, S
It is obtained by forming a PCC steel sheet into a predetermined shape by press working and then performing a carbonitriding treatment as a surface hardening treatment.

The ball bearing 3 includes an inner race 3a made of a steel plate press having an outward flange 3a1 at one end and a steel plate press having an inward flange 3b1 at the other end in contact with the diaphragm spring (35) of the clutch device. Outer race 3b, and the inner race 3a and the outer race 3b are interposed between the respective raceways 3a.
Plural balls 3c in angular contact with 2, 3b2
And a retainer 3d for holding the ball 3c at a predetermined circumferential distance
And a first seal member 3e for sealing at one end between the outer diameter surface of the inner ring 3a and the inner diameter surface of the outer ring 3b, and a second seal member 3f for sealing at the other end. In this embodiment, the diaphragm spring (35)
ΦT> PCD ｛r = (φT / PC) is the diameter φT of the contact portion of the flange 3a1 of the inner ring 3a and the pitch circle diameter PCD of the ball 3c (diameter of the circle passing through the center of the ball 3c).
D)> 1}. Also, the first seal member 3e
Is a non-contact type elastic seal, the outer diameter side of which is an outer ring 3
b is press-fitted and fixed to the inner diameter surface on one end side, and the lip portion on the inner diameter side approaches the outer diameter surface on one end side of the inner ring 3a via a labyrinth gap. The second seal member 3f is a shield made of a steel plate press having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and its outer diameter side is press-fitted and fixed to the inner diameter surface on the other end side of the outer ring 3b, and its inner diameter side end is connected to the other end of the inner ring 3a. It approaches the outer diameter surface on the end side via a labyrinth gap. The first seal member 3e and the second seal member 3f
, A contact seal may be used.

As shown in FIG. 2, the outer surface of the inner race 3a has a sealing surface 3a3 on one end side of which the lip portion of the first sealing member 3e is located with the raceway surface 3a2 interposed therebetween, and a second sealing surface on the other end side. A sealing surface 3a4 is provided near the inner diameter side end of the member 3f. The sealing surface 3a3 at one end is continuous with the shoulder at one end of the raceway surface 3a2. Between the sealing surface 3a4 on the other end side and the raceway surface 3a2 is a counterbore 3a5 in which the shoulder of the raceway surface 3a2 is dropped, and between the outer diameter surface of the counterbore 3a5 and the bottom of the raceway surface 3a2. Is provided with a step δ1 for preventing the ball 3c from coming off. The other end side sealing surface 3a4 is formed to have a slightly smaller diameter than the outer diameter surface of the counter bore 3a5 as shown.

The inner ring 3a as described above is manufactured from, for example, a steel plate material through the steps of pressing, heat treatment, and grinding. As the steel plate material, a carburized steel plate can be used, and as the heat treatment, carburized quenching can be used. Examples of the carburized steel include nickel chrome steel (SNC), nickel chrome molybdenum steel (SNCM), chrome steel (SCr), and chromium molybdenum steel (SCM). Among these, nickel chrome steel (SNC) and nickel chrome molybdenum steel (SNC)
M) is a material that is less likely to cause excessive carburization and has excellent mechanical properties, but is difficult in terms of cost because it contains expensive nickel Ni as an alloying element. Considering the mechanical properties required for the inner ring, SNC steel, SNCM
With steel, there is a sense of excessive quality, and cost cannot be balanced. In contrast, chrome molybdenum steel (SCM)
Is hard to cause excessive carburization, has good hardenability, and is relatively inexpensive as compared with SNC steel and SNCM steel. Further, the mechanical characteristics required for the inner ring of the clutch release bearing device can be sufficiently satisfied. For this reason, chrome molybdenum steel (SC) is used as the material of the inner ring 3a.
It is preferred to use M). Chromium molybdenum steel (SC
M) is SCM415, SCM41 depending on the carbon content.
8, SCM420, SCM421, and SCM822, among which SCM415M is the most preferable.

The grinding of the inner ring 3a is performed by using a grinding wheel 20 as shown in FIG. 2, a raceway surface 3a2, a counter bore 3a5,
This is performed by simultaneously grinding the seal surface 3a4 on the other end side. In addition, simultaneous grinding of only the raceway surface 3a2 and the counter bore 3a5, simultaneous grinding of only the raceway surface 3a2 and the sealing surface 3a4, or simultaneous grinding of the raceway surface 3a2, the counter bore 3a5, and the sealing surfaces 3a3 and 3a4 may be performed.

As shown in FIG. 3, on the inner diameter surface of the outer ring 3b, a seal press-fit portion 3b3 into which the outer diameter portion of the first seal member 3e is press-fitted on one end side with the raceway surface 3b2 therebetween, and on the other end side. A seal press-fitting portion 3b4 into which the outer diameter side portion of the second seal member 3f is press-fitted is provided. Seal press-fit part 3 at one end
A counterbore 3b5 is formed between b3 and the raceway surface 3b2 by removing the shoulder of the raceway surface 3b2, and a slight step δ2 is provided between the inner diameter surface of the counterbore 3b5 and the bottom of the raceway surface 3b2. Have been. The other end of the seal press-fit portion 3b4 is
Is continuous with the shoulder at the other end. The first seal member 3 is provided between the seal press-fit portion 3b3 on one end side and the counter bore 3b5.
A substantially vertical step 3b6 functioning as a stopper for f is formed. The seal press-fit portion 3b3 at one end may be formed to have a larger diameter than the inner diameter surface of the counter bore 3b5 as shown in the figure, or may be connected to the inner diameter surface. The material and manufacturing method of the outer ring 3b are the same as those of the inner ring 3a described above, and the raceway surface 3b2, the counter bore 3b5, and the seal press-fit portion 3b3
Are simultaneously ground using a grinding wheel 21 shown in FIG.

The disc spring 4 as an elastic means is a substantially conical cylindrical press-formed product, and has a plurality of notches formed by notching from a small diameter end and a plurality of tongues formed between adjacent notches. And the pieces are provided at equal circumferential positions. In accordance with the elastic deformation of each tongue piece, the small-diameter end of the disc spring 4 contracts and expands.

From the above configuration, the ball bearing 3 is assembled by the outer race 3
b, ball 3c, retainer 3d, and seal member 3e,
This can be performed at low cost by press-fitting (squeezing) the inner race 3a from the other end side into the inner diameter portion of the assembly incorporating the 3f or the like. In this case, in order to further reduce the cost, it is desirable that the inner ring 3a be stuck at normal temperature, not under heating. In consideration of the assemblability at room temperature, it is desirable that the step δ1 of the inner ring 3a is as small as possible. On the other hand, if the step δ1 is too small, the inner ring 3a may come off. Accordingly, the step δ1 is a value that satisfies both conditions, that is, a value that allows the inner ring 3a to be easily squeezed at room temperature and that does not damage the surface of the ball 2c during the squeezing and that the inner ring 3a can be reliably prevented from coming off. For example, 30 μm (in the drawing, the step δ1 is exaggerated)
It is desirable to set to about. The step δ2 on the outer ring 3b side may be substantially the same as the step δ1 on the inner ring 3a side, but is generally larger than the step δ1.

The dimensions of the step δ1, the coaxiality of the counterbore 3a5, and the like can be accurately obtained by simultaneously grinding the counterbore 3a5 and the raceway surface as described above. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the assembly workability in the inserting process. Further, the seal surfaces 3a3 and 3a4 are simultaneously ground with the inner raceway surface 3a2, or the seal press-fit portion 3b3 of the outer race 3b is formed.
And 3b4 are simultaneously ground with the outer raceway surface 3b2,
Since it is possible to prevent a variation in the interference of the seal members 3e and 3f, it is possible to further improve the sealing performance.

When the inner ring 3a is inserted into the assembly as described above, a deep groove type (see FIG. 4) in which the shoulder is left without providing the counter bore 3b5 as the outer ring 3b can be used, but as in the present invention. Counter bore 3 in outer ring 3b
With the presence of b5, the space volume inside the bearing can be increased to increase the amount of grease sealed, and the advantage that the deterioration of the bearing lubrication function can be suppressed can be obtained.

When assembling the clutch release bearing device, an assembly of the ball bearing 3 assembly and the disc spring 4 is
From one end side, it is extrapolated to the outer circumference 1a of the sleeve 1, the flange 3b1 of the outer ring 3b of the ball bearing 3 abuts against the end face 2a of the side plate 2, and the small-diameter end (tongue) of the disc spring 4 is the stopper 1
Push until it touches the wall on the other end side of a2. In the process of pushing the assembly forward, the small-diameter end (tongue piece) of the disc spring 4 first comes into contact with the guide surface 1 at one end of the sleeve 1.
Guided by a1, rides on the outer circumference 1a, and then slides on the outer circumference 1a, abuts against the inclined wall at one end of the stopper 1a2, and is guided by the inclined wall and fits on the other end of the stopper 1a2. Get stuck.

As described above, when the assembly of the ball bearing 3 and the disc spring 4 is extrapolated to the outer periphery 1 a of the sleeve 1,
The clutch release bearing device of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is completed. Outer circumference 1a of sleeve 1 and inner ring 3a of ball bearing 3
Has a radial clearance S1 between the outer ring 3 and the inner ring surface.
There is a radial gap S2 between the inner diameter of the flange 3b1 and the outer circumference 1a of the sleeve 1. Radial clearance S
2 is smaller than the radial clearance S1 (S1> S)
2). The stopper 1a2 of the sleeve 1 and the outer ring 3
The flange portion 3b1 of the outer race 3b is elastically pressed against the end surface 2a of the side plate 2 by the urging force of the disc spring 4 compressed and interposed between the inner surface of the flange portion 3b1 and the ball bearing 3 so that the ball bearing 3 1 is elastically held between the outer periphery 1a and the end surface 2a of the side plate 2 slidably in the radial direction. The ball bearing 3
Due to the existence of the radial clearances S1 and S2, it is possible to perform centering movement in the radial direction with respect to the sleeve 1 and the side plate 2, and the amount of the centering movement is smaller in the radial clearance S2.
Regulated by There is an error in assembling between the axis of the front cover (33) and the axis of the output shaft (39), and misalignment occurs between the rotation center of the diaphragm spring (35) and the rotation center of the clutch release bearing device. Even if this occurs, the misalignment is automatically centered by the ball bearing 3 moving in accordance with the amount of the misalignment. In addition, ball bearing 3
After the required amount of centering movement, the urging force of the disc spring 4
It is elastically held at that position, and does not shift even if it receives vibration or impact of the engine (has so-called centering drag).

[0031]

(1) By simultaneously grinding the raceway surface and the counterbore, the accuracy of the counterbore is improved, the workability at the time of inserting the inner ring is improved, and the assemblability is improved and the manufacturing cost is reduced. Can be achieved.

(2) By simultaneously grinding the seal surface and the seal press-fit portion with the raceway surface and the counter bore, it is possible to prevent the interference of the seal member and the fluctuation of the labyrinth gap and improve the sealing performance.

(3) Since the inner and outer rings have the counterbore, the space volume inside the bearing can be increased to increase the amount of grease to be filled, and the deterioration of the bearing lubrication function can be suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a clutch release bearing device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an inner race.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an outer race.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a peripheral portion of a clutch device of an automobile.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a conventional clutch release bearing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sleeve 2 Side plate 3 Ball bearing 3a Inner ring 3a1 Flange 3a2 Track surface 3a3 Seal surface 3a4 Seal surface 3a5 Counter bore 3b Outer ring 3b1 Flange portion 3b2 Track surface 3b3 Seal press-fit portion 3b4 Seal press-fit portion 3b5 Counter press

Claims (5)

[Claims] An inner ring having a counterbore at one end of a raceway surface, an outer ring having a raceway surface, and a plurality of balls interposed between the raceway surface of the inner ring and the raceway surface of the outer ring, the balls being in angular contact with each other. , A ball bearing having a seal member fixed to the inner surface of the outer ring, a sleeve inserted inside the ball bearing, and extending radially outward from the outer periphery of the sleeve, and the ball bearing slides radially on one surface thereof. Equipped with a side plate that freely contacts and the release fork contacts the other surface, and elastic means that elastically presses and holds the ball bearing against one surface of the side plate, and the raceway surface of the inner ring and the counter bore are simultaneously ground. Self-aligning clutch release bearing device. 2. The self-centering die according to claim 1, wherein the inner ring has a sealing surface on the end face side of the counterbore in contact with or in contact with the sealing member, and the sealing surface is simultaneously ground with the raceway surface and the counterbore. Clutch release bearing device. 3. The self-centering clutch release bearing device according to claim 1, wherein the outer race has a counterbore at one end of the raceway surface, and the raceway surface of the outer race and the counterbore are simultaneously ground. 4. The outer ring has a seal press-fit portion on the end face side of the counterbore where the seal member is press-fitted and fixed, and the seal press-fit portion is simultaneously ground with the raceway surface of the outer ring and the counterbore. Self-aligning clutch release bearing device. 5. An inner ring made of a steel plate press having an outer flange portion at one end, which is in contact with a rotating member of the clutch device, and having a counter bore at the other end of the raceway surface, and an inward flange portion at one end. A steel plate press outer ring having a counter bore on the other end side of the raceway surface, a plurality of balls interposed between the raceway surface of the inner race and the raceway surface of the outer race, and having a plurality of balls in angular contact therewith, and an inner diameter of the outer race A ball bearing having a seal member press-fitted at one end and the other end of the surface, a sleeve inserted inside the ball bearing, and extending in an outer radial direction from an outer periphery of the sleeve, and one surface of the ball bearing A side plate made of a steel plate press in which a flange portion of the outer ring abuts radially slidably and a release fork abuts on the other surface, and an elastic means for elastically pressing and holding the outer ring of the ball bearing against one surface of the side plate. Self-aligning type equipped Clutch release bearing.