JPS6224823Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Field of Application) This invention relates to a clutch, particularly an air clutch with a damping action and an axial center adjustment action.

(Prior Art) An air clutch has an annular tube fixed to the inner circumferential surface of an outer cylinder, and the annular tube has many linings, and a drum is arranged inside the annular tube. When the air pressure in the annular tube is zero, the inner circumferential surface of the annular tube is separated from the outer circumferential surface of the drum, and the clutch is in a disengaged state. Furthermore, when the air pressure inside the annular tube is increased, the annular tube expands, and the lining on the inner circumferential surface contacts the outer circumferential surface of the drum, and torque is transmitted from the drive shaft to the driven shaft due to the frictional force between both surfaces.

By the way, air clutches can be used for short periods of time (e.g.
(0.5 seconds or less). Therefore, a considerable shock is generated in the transmission system when the clutch is engaged. Therefore, a shock absorber may be required to prevent damage to the annular tube due to repeated use and to transmit power smoothly.

In addition, if there is a large misalignment between the clutch and the transmission shaft, the annular tube will be biased towards the drum, reducing the transmitted torque and causing strain on a part of the annular tube, causing damage. , a flexible shaft joint is installed in the transmission system.

As mentioned above, providing a shock absorber or a flexible shaft joint in a transmission system requires a large space and has the problem of increasing equipment costs.

(Purpose of the invention) This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems with air clutches, and aims to provide a small and inexpensive air clutch that is equipped with shock absorbing and axial center adjustment functions.

(Structure of the invention) The clutch of this invention is the first clutch to which the drive shaft is connected.
Equipped with a hub. The first hub includes a flange provided with a plurality of elongated holes having a semi-cylindrical end surface. A clutch drum is arranged to accommodate this flange. The clutch drum is provided with a long groove having a semi-cylindrical end face at a position corresponding to the long hole. Further, an annular cover is fixed to the clutch drum so that the cylindrical portion of the first hub passes through the clutch drum. The annular cover is also provided with a long groove having a semi-cylindrical end surface at a position corresponding to the long hole. The flange is inserted into a space formed by the clutch drum and the annular cover, with a gap formed between the clutch drum and the annular cover.

The clutch also includes a second hub to which the driven shaft is connected. The second hub faces the clutch drum. An outer cylinder protrudes from the second hub so as to cover the clutch drum.

A spring seat having a semi-cylindrical surface passes through the elongated hole and its ends enter into the elongated grooves of the clutch drum and the annular cover. The spring seats face each other to form a pair. The radius of the semi-cylindrical surface of the spring seat is slightly smaller than the radius of the semi-cylindrical end surfaces of the elongated hole and the elongated groove.

A spring is inserted between opposing spring seats.

Further, a tube is disposed between the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder and the outer circumferential surface of the clutch drum. The tube is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder.

(Operation) When the air pressure inside the annular tube is 0, the inner peripheral surface of the tube is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the clutch drum, and the clutch is in a disengaged state.

When air at a required pressure is supplied into the annular tube, the tube expands and its inner circumferential surface contacts the outer circumferential surface of the clutch drum. Torque is transmitted from the drive shaft to the driven shaft via the hub due to the frictional force caused by the contact between the two surfaces. That is, torque is transmitted from the drive shaft to the first hub, and from the flange portion of the first hub to one of the pair of spring seats. Torque is then transmitted from the spring seat to the other opposing spring seat via the spring, and from this spring seat to the clutch drum. The spring deforms according to the load depending on the transmitted torque. Torque is then transmitted to the driven shaft via the clutch drum, tube, outer cylinder, and second hub.

When a shock is applied to the transmission system, such as when the clutch is engaged or disengaged, the spring deforms elastically to reduce the shock.

In addition, if there is misalignment between the drive shaft and the driven shaft, within the range permitted by the gap provided between the flange, clutch drum, and annular cover,
The first hub and the clutch drum are mutually displaced to adjust the misalignment of the shaft center. At this time, since the radius of the semi-cylindrical surface of the spring seat is slightly smaller than the radius of the semi-cylindrical end surfaces of the elongated hole and groove, the spring seat easily rolls against these semi-cylindrical end surfaces.
The first hub and clutch drum are easily displaced,
It is possible to adjust the misalignment of the axis.

(Embodiment) FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of this invention.

As shown in the drawings, the first hub 1 includes a flange 3 at the tip (left end in FIG. 1) of a cylindrical portion 2, and a flange 4 at the rear end. The flange 3 on the tip side is provided with three elongated holes 5 extending 120 degrees apart in the circumferential direction. Both ends of the elongated hole 5 each form a semi-cylindrical surface 6. A drive shaft (not shown) is connected to the flange 4 on the rear end side with a bolt or the like.

The clutch drum 8 has a dish shape consisting of a disk part 9 and a cylindrical part 10, and a part of the cylindrical part 2 of the first hub 1 and the flange 3 are inserted inside. A long groove 11 is provided in the disc portion 9 at a position corresponding to the long hole 5. Both ends of the long groove 11 are semi-cylindrical surfaces 12, respectively. The width, length, and radius of both end faces of the long groove 11 are equal to those of the long hole 5.

An annular cover 14 is fixed to the clutch drum 8 by a set bolt 15 so as to close the opening side of the clutch drum 8. The annular cover 14 is also provided with a long groove 16 similar to the long groove 11 of the clutch drum 8. The cylindrical portion 2 of the first hub 1 is an annular cover 1
It passes through 4. A dustproof cover 18 is attached to the annular cover 14 with bolts 19.

The second hub 21 has flanges 2 at both ends of the cylindrical portion 22.
3 and 24, and are arranged to face the clutch drum 8. A driven shaft (not shown) is attached to the flange 23 on the front end side. An outer cylinder 27 is fixed to the flange 24 on the rear end side with bolts 25.

The outer cylinder 27 projects toward the clutch drum 8 so that a cylindrical portion 28 covers the clutch drum 8.

A rubber annular tube 31 is fixed along the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 27 with adhesive. The annular tube 31 is connected to well-known equipment including a source of operating air, a pressure regulating valve, a switching valve, etc. (none of which are shown).

A lining 3 is provided inside the annular tube 31.
2 are fixed with a certain gap.

A pair of spring seats 33 having semi-cylindrical surfaces 34 pass through the long holes 5 of the first hub flange 3. An annular groove 36 and a small cylindrical guide 3 are provided on the spring receiving surface 35 of the spring receiving seat 33 on the opposite side to the semi-cylindrical surface 34.
7 is provided. The paired spring seats 33 are arranged so that the spring receiving surfaces 35 face each other. Also, the radius of the semi-cylindrical surface 34 of the spring seat 33 is equal to
2 and 17, and the spring receiving seat 33 can easily roll against these end faces.

A coil spring 39 and a disc spring 40 are inserted between the opposing spring seats 33. The end of the coil spring 39 is fitted into the annular groove 36, and the inner peripheral surface is fitted into the guide 37. The disc spring 40 is guided by the coil spring 39.

In the clutch constructed as described above, a suitable gap g is provided between the flange 3 of the first hub 1, the clutch drum 8, and the annular cover 14. Therefore, when adjusting the misalignment of the shaft center, the first hub 1 and the clutch drum 8 can be displaced in the radial direction and the axial direction without interfering with each other, and can also be tilted.

The action of this clutch is as described above, but the spring seat is slightly displaced in the radial direction when transmitting torque while absorbing radial misalignment of the shaft center or oblique alignment of the shaft. At this time, the spring seat rolls on the end faces of the elongated hole 5 and the elongated grooves 11 and 16 and is displaced. Therefore, the spring seat 33 is smoothly displaced and torque is also smoothly transmitted.

In addition, the coil spring 39 has a spring constant of the disc spring 40.
It's quite small compared to the others. Therefore, the coil spring 39 can be largely deflected and an appropriate preload can be applied to the spring seat 33 so that the spring seat 33 does not shake when there is no load. Most of the load during torque transmission is borne by the disc spring 40.

This invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, two sets of springs may be arranged side by side between a pair of spring seats, or the spring may be only one of a coil spring and a disc spring. Furthermore, although there are three pairs of spring seats, there may be four or more pairs. Furthermore, the second hub and the outer cylinder may be integrally formed. Furthermore, the tube may not be annular, but may be, for example, in the shape of a quarter arc divided into four parts.

(Effects of the invention) A flexible shaft joint with a cushioning effect is integrated into the clutch drum. Therefore,
The annular tube of the clutch uniformly contacts the clutch drum, and the impact on the transmission system when the clutch is engaged or disengaged can be reduced, and the entire clutch can be made smaller.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 and 2 show an example of the clutch of this invention. Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, and Figure 2 is a partially cutaway view of the clutch drum to which the first hub, spring seat, and spring are attached. FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... First hub, 2... Hub cylindrical portion, 3... Hub flange, 5... Long hole, 8... Clutch drum, 11... Long groove, 14... Annular cover, 16...
... Long groove, 21 ... Second hub, 27 ... Outer cylinder, 31
...Annular tube, 32...Lining, 33...
...Spring catch, 39, 40...Spring.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A first hub equipped with a flange 3 to which a drive shaft is connected and provided with a plurality of elongated holes 5 each having a semi-cylindrical end surface 6; a long groove containing the flange 3 of the first hub 1 and having a semi-cylindrical end surface 12; 11 is provided at a position corresponding to the elongated hole 5, a clutch drum 8, a long groove 16 having a semi-cylindrical end surface 17 is provided at a position corresponding to the elongated hole 5, and a cylindrical portion 2 of the first hub 1 is provided. an annular cover 14 fixed to the clutch drum 8 so as to pass through it; a second hub 21 to which the driven shaft is connected and facing the clutch drum 8; and a second hub 21 protruding from the second hub 21 so as to cover the clutch drum 8. An outer cylinder 27 passes through the elongated hole 5 and its ends enter the elongated grooves 11 and 16 of the clutch drum 8 and the annular cover 14, and the semi-cylindrical surface 3
4, the springs 39 and 40 inserted between the pair of spring seats 33, and the outer circumferential surface of the outer cylinder 27 between the outer peripheral surface of the clutch drum 8 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 27. Tube 3 fixed to the inner peripheral surface
1, the flange 3 is inserted into the space formed by the clutch drum 8 and the annular cover 14 with a gap g between the clutch drum 8 and the annular cover 14, and the semi-cylindrical spring seat 33 The radius of the surface 34 is the same as that of the elongated hole 5.
and semi-cylindrical end surfaces 6, 12, 1 of long grooves 11, 16
A clutch characterized by a radius slightly smaller than that of 7.