WO2018061802A1 - Clutch and motor - Google Patents

Abstract

This clutch includes a clutch housing, a drive-side rotational solid, a driven-side rotational solid, a rolling element, a support member, and grease. The rolling element is disposed between the driven-side rotational solid and the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing. The rolling element rotates together with the drive-side rotational solid about the rotational axis of the drive-side rotational solid when the drive-side rotational solid is rotationally driven. The rolling element is held between the driven-side rotational solid and the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing when the drive-side rotational solid is not rotationally driven, whereby the rolling element inhibits rotation of the driven-side rotational solid. The support member holds the rolling element between the driven-side rotational solid and the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing. The support member rotates together with the drive-side rotational solid about the rotational axis of the drive-side rotational solid. The grease is disposed between the rolling element and the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing. The support member limits the rotation of the rolling element about a center axis of the rolling element.

Description

Clutch and motor

The present invention relates to a clutch and a motor including the clutch.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a motor used as a drive source for a power window device or the like mounted on a vehicle has a motor unit having a rotating shaft that is driven to rotate and a driven shaft that transmits the rotational driving force of the rotating shaft. And an output unit that outputs the rotational driving force transmitted to the motor. For example, as described in Patent Document 1, the rotating shaft and the driven shaft transmit the rotational driving force of the rotating shaft to the driven shaft while not transmitting the rotational force from the driven shaft side to the rotating shaft. It is connected via a clutch that operates on

The clutch described in Patent Document 1 includes a drive-side rotator that rotates integrally with a rotation shaft, a driven-side rotator that can engage with the drive-side rotator in the rotation direction, and rotates integrally with the driven shaft, and a drive-side rotation. And a cylindrical clutch housing (clamping member) in which the body and the driven rotary body are inserted. Further, between the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing and the driven side rotator, the driven shaft is sandwiched between the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing and the driven side rotator when the rotary shaft is not driven to rotate (becomes a wedge). A cylindrical rolling element that prevents rotation of the side rotating body (that is, rotation of the driven shaft) is interposed. The rolling element is held by a support member inserted inside the clutch housing such that the center axis thereof is parallel to the rotation axis of the drive side rotator. The support member rotates around the rotation axis of the driving side rotating body together with the driving side rotating body when the rotating shaft is driven to rotate. Therefore, at the time of rotational driving of the rotating shaft, the rolling element rotates with the driving side rotating body and the driven side rotating body around the rotation axis of the driving side rotating body along the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing while being held by the support member. .

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-40488

By the way, between the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing and the rolling element, the inner part of the clutch housing is prevented to prevent the rotating shaft from rotating from the driven shaft side when the rotating shaft (driving side rotating body) is not rotated. Grease is arranged to prevent the rolling element from slipping with respect to the inner circumferential surface of the clutch housing when the peripheral surface and the driven-side rotator sandwich the rolling element. However, when the rotating shaft is driven to rotate, the rolling element rotates around the rotation axis of the drive-side rotating body along the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing while rotating around the central axis of the rolling element. Therefore, the grease between the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing and the rolling element scatters as the rolling element rotates about the central axis, and the grease between the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing and the rolling element is insufficient. There was a problem that sometimes. If the grease between the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing and the rolling element is insufficient, it becomes difficult to hold the rolling element between the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing and the driven-side rotating body when the rotary shaft is not rotated (wedges). It may be difficult to do).

An object of the present invention is to provide a clutch and a motor that can suppress the shortage of grease between the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing and the rolling element.

In order to achieve the above object, the clutch includes an annular clutch housing, a driving side rotating body that is rotationally driven, a driven side rotating body, a rolling element, a support member, and grease. The driven-side rotator has a portion disposed inside the clutch housing, and a rotational driving force is transmitted from the drive-side rotator. The rolling element is disposed between an inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing and the driven side rotating body. The rolling element rotates around the rotation axis of the driving side rotating body together with the driving side rotating body when the driving side rotating body is driven to rotate. The rolling element is held between the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing and the driven-side rotating body when the driving-side rotating body is not rotated, thereby preventing the driven-side rotating body from rotating. The support member holds the rolling element between an inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing and the driven side rotating body. The support member rotates about the rotation axis of the driving side rotating body together with the driving side rotating body. The grease is disposed at least between the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing and the rolling element. The support member limits the rotation of the rolling element around the center axis of the rolling element.

Sectional drawing of the motor of 1st Embodiment. The partial expanded sectional view of the motor of a 1st embodiment. The disassembled perspective view of the clutch in 1st Embodiment. (A) is a side view of the support member holding the rolling element in the clutch of the first embodiment, and (b) is a bottom view of the support member. FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of the clutch according to the first embodiment (cross-sectional view taken along 6a-6a in FIG. 2). (A) is a cross-sectional view of the clutch in the first embodiment (cross-sectional view of 6a-6a in FIG. 2), and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the clutch in the first embodiment (cross-sectional view of 6b-6b in FIG. 2). (A) And (b) is sectional drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of the clutch in 1st Embodiment. (A) And (b) is sectional drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of the clutch in 1st Embodiment. (A) And (b) is sectional drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of the clutch in 1st Embodiment. (A) is a top view of the rolling element of another form, (b) is a front view of the rolling element. (A) is a top view of the rolling element of another form, (b) is a front view of the rolling element. (A) is a top view of the rolling element of another form, (b) is a front view of the rolling element. (A) is a top view of the rolling element of another form, (b) is a front view of the rolling element. (A) is a top view of the rolling element of another form, (b) is a front view of the rolling element. Sectional drawing of the clutch of another form. (A) And (b) is sectional drawing of the clutch of another form. The partial expanded sectional view of the clutch of another form. Sectional drawing of the motor of 2nd Embodiment. The partial expanded sectional view of the motor of 2nd Embodiment. The disassembled perspective view of the clutch in 2nd Embodiment. (A) is a side view of the support member holding the rolling element in the clutch of the second embodiment, and (b) is a bottom view of the support member. The partial expanded sectional view of the clutch in 2nd Embodiment. (A) is a sectional view of the clutch in the second embodiment (F6a-F6a sectional view in FIG. 19), and (b) is a sectional view of the clutch in the second embodiment (F6b-F6b sectional view in FIG. 19). (A) And (b) is sectional drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of the clutch in 2nd Embodiment. (A) And (b) is sectional drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of the clutch in 2nd Embodiment. (A) And (b) is sectional drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of the clutch in 2nd Embodiment. (A) is a side view of a support member holding a rolling element in the clutch of the third embodiment, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the support member (F10b-F10b cross-sectional view in FIG. 27 (a)). The partial expanded sectional view of the support member and rolling element in the clutch of 3rd Embodiment. (A) is a side view of a support member holding a rolling element in the clutch of the fourth embodiment, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the support member (F12b-F12b cross-sectional view in FIG. 29 (a)). (A) is a top view of the rolling element of another form, (b) is a front view of the rolling element. (A) is a top view of the rolling element of another form, (b) is a front view of the rolling element. (A) is a top view of the rolling element of another form, (b) is a front view of the rolling element. (A) is a top view of the rolling element of another form, (b) is a front view of the rolling element. (A) is a top view of the rolling element of another form, (b) is a front view of the rolling element. Sectional drawing of the clutch of another form. (A) And (b) is the elements on larger scale of another form of the clutch. The partial expanded sectional view of the clutch of another form. The partial expanded sectional view of the clutch of another form.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a motor provided with a clutch will be described.
A motor 10 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is provided in a power window device that electrically lifts and lowers a window glass of a vehicle. The motor 10 is configured by integrally assembling a motor unit 20 that generates rotational force and an output unit 30 that decelerates and outputs rotation output from the motor unit 20. In addition, the motor 10 includes a clutch 40 at a drive connection portion between the motor unit 20 and the output unit 30.

The motor unit 20 of the first embodiment is a DC motor. A magnet 22 is fixed to an inner peripheral surface of a bottomed cylindrical yoke housing 21 (hereinafter referred to as a yoke 21) constituting the motor unit 20, and an armature 23 is disposed inside the magnet 22. . The armature 23 includes a rotating shaft 24 disposed at the center of the yoke 21. A base end portion (upper end portion in FIG. 1) of the rotating shaft 24 is supported by a bearing 25 provided at the center of the bottom of the yoke 21. A commutator 26 is fixed. Further, a connecting portion 24a having a two-sided width shape that is chamfered in parallel from a columnar shape is provided at the tip end portion (the lower end portion in FIG. 1) of the rotating shaft 24.

A flange portion 21 a extending outward is formed in the opening portion of the yoke 21, and a brush holder 27 is fitted in the opening portion of the yoke 21. The brush holder 27 has a holder main body 27a having a shape for closing the opening of the yoke 21, and a connector part 27b protruding from the holder main body 27a to the outer side in the radial direction of the yoke 21 and connected to an external connector (not shown). The holder main body 27a holds a plurality of power supply brushes 28 that are electrically connected to the connector portion 27b by wires (not shown) and are in sliding contact with the commutator 26. The holder main body 27a holds a bearing 29 at a substantially central portion thereof, and the bearing 29 pivotally supports a portion of the rotating shaft 24 between the commutator 26 and the connecting portion 24a. When the external power supplied to the brush 28 via the connector portion 27b is supplied to the armature 23 via the commutator 26, the armature 23 (rotating shaft 24) is driven to rotate, that is, the motor portion 20 is It is designed to rotate.

The output unit 30 is formed by housing a speed reduction mechanism 32 and the like in a resin gear housing 31. The gear housing 31 includes a fixing portion 31 a for fixing the gear housing 31 to the motor portion 20 at a portion (an upper end portion in FIG. 1) facing the motor portion 20 in the axial direction. The fixed portion 31 a has an outer shape similar to the outer shape of the flange portion 21 a of the yoke 21, and an accommodating recess 31 b that opens toward the inside of the yoke 21 is formed in the fixed portion 31 a. Then, in a state where a part of the holder main body 27a of the brush holder 27 is inserted into the housing recess 31b, the flange portion 21a that is in contact with the fixing portion 31a is fixed to the fixing portion 31a by the screw 33, whereby the gear The yoke 21 is fixed to the housing 31, and the motor unit 20 and the output unit 30 are integrated. The brush holder 27 is sandwiched between the yoke 21 and the fixed portion 31a.

Further, the gear housing 31 is provided with a clutch housing recess 31c in the center of the bottom of the housing recess 31b in the axial direction, and extends from the center of the bottom of the clutch housing recess 31c along the direction of the central axis L1 of the rotary shaft 24. A worm shaft accommodating portion 31d is recessed. Further, the gear housing 31 is provided with a wheel housing portion 31e recessed on the side (right side in FIG. 1) of the worm shaft housing portion 31d. The wheel housing portion 31e and the worm shaft housing portion 31d are connected to each other at a substantially central portion in the axial direction (longitudinal direction) of the worm shaft housing portion 31d.

The worm shaft accommodating portion 31d accommodates a substantially cylindrical worm shaft 34 (driven shaft). The worm shaft 34 is made of a metal material, and a screw-like worm portion 34a is formed in the central portion in the axial direction. The worm shaft 34 is supported at both ends in the axial direction by a pair of bearings 35 and 36 disposed at both ends in the axial direction of the worm shaft housing portion 31d. The worm shaft 34 disposed in the worm shaft housing portion 31d is supported by bearings 35 and 36 so as to be disposed coaxially with the rotary shaft 24, that is, the central axis L1 of the rotary shaft 24 and the worm shaft 34. The central axis line L2 is arranged on the same straight line.

A disc-shaped worm wheel 37 that meshes with the worm portion 34a of the worm shaft 34 is rotatably accommodated in the wheel accommodating portion 31e. The worm wheel 37 and the worm shaft 34 constitute a speed reduction mechanism 32. That is, the speed reduction mechanism 32 of the first embodiment is a worm speed reduction mechanism (worm gear). In addition, an output shaft 38 that extends in the axial direction of the worm wheel 37 (in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1) and rotates together with the worm wheel 37 is provided at the radial center of the worm wheel 37. A window glass of a vehicle is connected to the output shaft 38 via a window regulator (not shown).

Further, the clutch 40 that connects the rotating shaft 24 of the motor unit 20 and the worm shaft 34 of the output unit 30 is housed in the clutch housing recess 31c.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the clutch 40 includes a clutch housing 41 as a clamping member, a driving side rotating body 42, a support member 43, a rolling element 44, and a driven side rotating body 45.

The clutch housing 41 has a cylindrical shape, and a hook-shaped fixed flange portion 41 a extending radially outward is formed at one end portion in the axial direction of the clutch housing 41. The outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the clutch housing 41 is formed substantially equal to the inner diameter of the clutch housing recess 31c, and the outer diameter of the fixed flange portion 41a is formed larger than the inner diameter of the clutch housing recess 31c. In addition, fixed recesses 41b are formed in the fixed flange portion 41a at four locations that are equiangularly spaced in the circumferential direction. Each fixing recess 41b penetrates the fixing flange portion 41a in the axial direction and opens radially outward.

As shown in FIG. 2, the clutch housing 41 is inserted into the clutch housing recess 31c until the fixed flange portion 41a contacts the bottom surface of the housing recess 31b, and is fixed to the gear housing 31 at the fixed flange portion 41a. ing. Specifically, on the outer surface of the opening of the clutch housing recess 31c on the bottom surface of the housing recess 31b, four fixed projections 31f projecting in the axial direction are formed at equiangular intervals in the circumferential direction. These four fixed projections 31f are inserted in the axial direction with respect to the four fixed recesses 41b of the fixed flange portion 41a, and the tip portions of the respective fixed projections 31f are processed by heat caulking. Thereby, the clutch housing 41 is fixed to the gear housing 31 so as not to move in the axial direction and to rotate in the circumferential direction. The clutch housing 41 fixed to the gear housing 31 is arranged coaxially with the rotary shaft 24 and the worm shaft 34.

The drive-side rotator 42 has a substantially cylindrical shaft coupling portion 51. On the outer peripheral surface of the shaft connecting portion 51, a disc-shaped flange portion 52 that extends outward in the radial direction is integrally formed.
In the shaft coupling portion 51, a drive shaft insertion hole 53 extending along the axial direction is formed at the axial center of the axial end portion (upper end portion in FIG. 2) near the motor portion 20. The drive shaft insertion hole 53 has a two-sided width shape corresponding to the outer shape of the connecting portion 24 a of the rotating shaft 24. Then, when the connecting portion 24 a is press-fitted into the drive shaft insertion hole 53, the drive side rotating body 42 is connected to the rotary shaft 24 so as to be integrally rotatable. The rotating shaft 24 and the drive-side rotating body 42 connected to the rotating shaft 24 are coaxial (that is, their center axes are located on the same straight line).

Further, in the shaft coupling portion 51, a driven shaft insertion hole 54 extending along the axial direction is formed at the axial center of the axial end portion (lower end portion in FIG. 2) near the output portion 30. The center axis of the driven shaft insertion hole 54 coincides with the center axis of the drive shaft insertion hole 53. In the first embodiment, the drive shaft insertion hole 53 and the driven shaft insertion hole 54 communicate with each other.

As shown in FIG. 6 (b), the inner peripheral surface of the driven shaft insertion hole 54 has a pair of drive side transmission surfaces 54a that are parallel to each other in a planar shape parallel to the axial direction. The shape of the driven shaft insertion hole 54 viewed from the axial direction is a substantially track shape (two directions parallel to the drive-side transmission surface 54a and the short-side direction perpendicular to the drive-side transmission surface 54a). (Width shape). Each drive-side transmission surface 54a is provided with two first elastic members 55 made of an elastic material such as a rubber material. Moreover, the 2nd elastic member 56 which consists of materials which have elasticity, such as a rubber material, is each provided in the both ends of the longitudinal direction of the driven shaft insertion hole 54 seeing axially. The first and second elastic members 55 and 56 slightly protrude inward from the inner peripheral surface of the driven shaft insertion hole 54.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6A, the driving side rotating body 42 is a pair of members extending from the flange portion 52 toward the output portion 30 in the axial direction (that is, downward in FIG. 3). A rolling element releasing portion 57 is provided. The rolling element releasing portions 57 are provided on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the driven shaft insertion hole 54 as viewed in the axial direction. Further, the two rolling element releasing portions 57 are provided at positions that are separated from each other by 180 ° in the rotation direction and opposed in the radial direction. In addition, the both ends of the circumferential direction in each rolling element cancellation | release part 57 are comprised by the elastic part 58 which consists of materials which have elasticity, such as a rubber material. Each of the rolling element release portions 57 is disposed inside the clutch housing 41.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the support member 43 holds the rolling element 44 between the clutch housing 41 and the driven side rotating body 45 opposed in the radial direction. The support member 43 of the first embodiment is made of resin.

The support member 43 has a ring portion 61 having an annular shape with the central axis L2 of the worm shaft 34 as the center. The outer diameter of the ring portion 61 is larger than the inner diameter of the clutch housing 41. And the ring part 61 is arrange | positioned near the motor part 20 (namely, upper side in FIG. 2) with respect to the fixed flange part 41a of the clutch housing 41, and is facing the fixed flange part 41a in the axial direction. Further, an annular protrusion along the circumferential direction of the ring portion 61 is formed on the lower surface of the ring portion 61 (an end surface in the axial direction facing the fixed flange portion 41a), and the lower surface is in contact with the fixed flange portion 41a from the axial direction. Side protrusions 61a are formed. Further, an upper protrusion 61b that protrudes in the axial direction and abuts against the flange portion 52 of the drive side rotating body 42 from the axial direction is formed on the upper surface of the ring portion 61 (the end surface on the driving side rotating body 42 side).

Rolling elements that each have a columnar shape extending in the axial direction and hold the rolling elements 44 at two positions spaced apart in the circumferential direction on the inner circumferential side of the ring portion 61 (that is, two positions spaced apart by 180 ° in the first embodiment). A holding part 62 is formed.

Here, the rolling element 44 held by the rolling element holder 62 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, each rolling element 44 is made of resin, and its central axis L3 is parallel to the central axis L1 of the rotating shaft 24 and the central axis L2 of the worm shaft 34. It is arranged to make. And as for each rolling element 44 of 1st Embodiment, the shape seen from the axial direction has comprised the double-sided width shape. Therefore, each rolling element 44 has a shape having a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction when viewed from the axial direction. In the state shown in FIG. 4B, the radial direction of the clutch 40 is the longitudinal direction of the rolling element 44, and the circumferential direction of the clutch 40 is the short direction of the rolling element 44. Each rolling element 44 has first and second opposing surfaces 71a that are planar on both sides in the rotational direction X1 of the drive-side rotator 42 (the same as the circumferential direction of the clutch 40, hereinafter referred to as the rotational direction X1). , 71b. Furthermore, each rolling element 44 has first and second arcuate surfaces 72 a and 72 b on both sides in the radial direction of the clutch 40. The outer peripheral surface of each rolling element 44 of the first embodiment is composed of the first and second opposing surfaces 71a and 71b and the first and second arcuate surfaces 72a and 72b.

As shown in FIG. 5, in each rolling element 44, the first and second opposing surfaces 71a and 71b are parallel to the central axis L3 and parallel to each other. In each rolling element 44, the first and second arcuate surfaces 72a and 72b have an arc shape with the center axis L3 as the center of curvature when viewed from the axial direction. Are equal. Further, the first and second arcuate surfaces 72a and 72b are formed parallel to the central axis L3 without being inclined. In each rolling element 44, the first arcuate surface 72a located radially outward is opposed to the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 in the radial direction and can contact the inner peripheral surface 41c. . On the other hand, in each rolling element 44, the second arcuate surface 72 b located on the radially inner side is opposed to the driven-side rotator 45 in the radial direction and can contact the driven-side rotator 45. In addition, the both end surfaces of the axial direction in each rolling element 44 have comprised the planar shape which makes a right angle with the 1st and 2nd opposing surfaces 71a and 71b (refer Fig.4 (a)).

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 (a), and 4 (b), each rolling element holding portion 62 has an axial support portion 63 that extends radially inward from the ring portion 61. The axial support part 63 faces the rolling element 44 in the axial direction. Moreover, each rolling element holding | maintenance part 62 is opposite to the ring part 61 along the axial direction (center axis line L1, L2 direction) from the both ends of the circumferential direction of the axial direction support part 63 (downward in Fig.4 (a)). And a pair of roller supports 64a and 64b (rotation direction facing portions). In each rolling element holding portion 62, paired roller supports 64a and 64b are positioned on both sides of the rolling element 44 in the rotation direction X1, and rotate the rolling element 44 so that the central axis L3 is parallel to the central axis L1. Holding from both sides in the direction X1. It should be noted that the roller supports 64a and 64b forming a pair of the respective rolling element holding portions 62 are opposed to the rolling elements 44 when the clutch 40 is viewed in the axial direction from the motor portion 20 (that is, the state shown in FIG. The roller support positioned on the clockwise side is the first roller support 64a, and the roller support positioned on the clockwise side with respect to the rolling element 44 is the second roller support 64b.

Further, the support member 43 has a connecting portion 66 that connects the tip end portion of the first roller support 64a of one rolling element holding portion 62 and the tip end portion of the second roller support 64b of the other rolling element holding portion 62 to each other. . The connecting portion 66 has an arc shape centered on the central axes L1 and L2 when viewed in the axial direction. In addition, a holding claw (support member side engaging portion) 67 protruding between the paired first and second roller supports 64a and 64b is provided at the tip of each roller support 64a and 64b. Each holding claw 67 abuts against one end surface of the rolling element 44 in the axial direction from the axial direction, and prevents the rolling element 44 from falling off from the rolling element holding part 62 in the axial direction.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4B and 5, in each rolling element holding portion 62, a pair of roller supports 64a and 64b are provided on the side surfaces facing each other in the rotational direction X1, respectively. It has contact surfaces 68a and 68b. The first contact surface 68a provided on the first roller support 64a has a planar shape parallel to the central axes L1 and L2, and is a rolling element disposed between the pair of roller supports 64a and 64b. 44 is opposed to the first opposing surface 71a. Similarly to the first contact surface 68a, the second contact surface 68b provided on the second roller support 64b has a planar shape that is parallel to the central axes L1 and L2, and forms a pair of rollers. It faces the second facing surface 71b of the rolling element 44 disposed between the supports 64a and 64b. And the 1st and 2nd opposing surfaces 71a and 71b which oppose the rotation direction X1 have comprised mutually parallel. The axial lengths of the first and second contact surfaces 68a and 68b are the axial lengths of the rolling elements 44 (the axial lengths of the first and second opposing surfaces 71a and 71b). Longer than. The radial width of the clutch 40 at the first and second contact surfaces 68a and 68b is equal to or greater than the radial width of the clutch 40 at the first and second opposing surfaces 71a and 71b. .

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the maximum outer diameter (that is, the width in the longitudinal direction of the rolling element 44 in the axial direction) D1 of each rolling element 44 is the first contact surface 68a in each rolling element holding portion 62. Longer than the distance D2 between the second contact surface 68b and the second contact surface 68b. Furthermore, the distance D2 in each rolling element holding portion 62 is the width D3 of each rolling element 44 in the rotation direction X1 (that is, the length between the first facing surface 71a and the second facing surface 71b in the first embodiment). That is, it is longer than the width in the short direction of the rolling element 44 when viewed in the axial direction. Therefore, the rotation range of the rolling element 44 around the central axis L3 is determined between the paired roller supports 64a and 64b and the rolling element 44 disposed between the paired roller supports 64a and 64b. An allowable gap G1 is provided. For these reasons, each rolling element 44 is restricted from rotating about the central axis L3 by the pair of roller supports 64a and 64b.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the rolling element 44 rotates counterclockwise around the central axis L <b> 3 between the pair of roller supports 64 a and 64 b when viewed in the axial direction from the motor unit 20, As illustrated, in the rolling element 44, an end portion of the first facing surface 71a near the first arc surface 72a contacts the first contact surface 68a. Further, in the rolling element 44, an end portion of the second facing surface 71b near the second arcuate surface 72b comes into contact with the second contact surface 68b. On the other hand, when the rolling element 44 rotates clockwise around the central axis L3 between the pair of roller supports 64a and 64b as viewed in the axial direction from the motor unit 20, as shown by the two-dot chain line, The moving body 44 is in contact with the first contact surface 68a at the end of the first facing surface 71a near the second arcuate surface 72b. Further, in the rolling element 44, an end portion of the second facing surface 71b near the first arc surface 72a contacts the second contact surface 68b. As described above, the rotation of the rolling element 44 around the central axis L3 is limited by the pair of roller supports 64a and 64b, so that the outer peripheral surface of the rolling element 44 can be brought into sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41. The sliding contact range A1 is determined.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 (a), the two rolling elements 44 are equiangularly spaced in the rotational direction X1 (ie, 180 ° apart in the first embodiment) by being held by the support member 43 having the above-described configuration. ). Further, since the roller supports 64 a and 64 b holding the rolling elements 44 are inserted and arranged inside the clutch housing 41, each rolling element 44 is radially connected to the clutch housing 41 inside the clutch housing 41. Opposite to. Further, the rolling element 44 has a portion corresponding to the sliding contact range A1 (see FIG. 5) in the first arc surface 72a between the pair of roller supports 64a and 64b, and the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41. Can be touched. The support member 43 can rotate relative to the clutch housing 41 in the rotation direction X1.

Further, each rolling element release portion 57 of the drive side rotating body 42 is inserted inside the clutch housing 41 through the inner peripheral side of the ring portion 61 of the support member 43. Furthermore, each rolling element release part 57 is arrange | positioned between the two rolling element holding parts 62, respectively, and adjoins each rolling element holding part 62 in the circumferential direction. Therefore, both end portions (respective elastic portions 58) in the rotation direction X1 of each rolling element release portion 57 are the first roller support 64a of one rolling element holding portion 62 and the second roller support 64b of the other rolling element holding portion 62. And the rotation direction X1. The support member 43 and the drive-side rotator 42 can rotate relative to each other in the rotation direction X1, and when the drive-side rotator 42 rotates, each rolling element release portion 57 is a roller support positioned on the front side in the rotation direction. 64a and 64b are contacted.

2 and 3, the driven-side rotating body 45 is formed integrally with the base end portion (the upper end portion in FIG. 2) of the worm shaft 34, and is made of metal. The driven-side rotating body 45 includes a control unit 81 and a driven-side connecting unit 82 that are arranged in parallel in the axial direction. The driven side connecting portion 82 is provided on the base end side (the upper side in FIG. 2) of the control portion 81.

The control unit 81 is formed integrally with the worm shaft 34 and has a column shape extending in the axial direction of the worm shaft 34. The central axis of the control unit 81 is coincident with the central axis L2 of the worm shaft 34, and is formed coaxially with the worm shaft 34. As shown in FIG. 6A, when viewed from the direction of the central axis L2, the control unit 81 has a point-symmetric shape with the central axis L2 of the worm shaft 34 as the center of symmetry.

A pair of control surfaces 83 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the control unit 81. Each control surface 83 is formed at two locations that are equiangularly spaced in the circumferential direction (that is, 180 ° in the first embodiment) on the outer peripheral surface of the control unit 81. Each control surface 83 has a planar shape that is parallel to the axial direction and orthogonal to the radial direction of the driven-side rotator 45. Further, the pair of control surfaces 83 are parallel to each other, and the axial length of each control surface 83 is longer than the axial length of the rolling element 44.

2 and 6B, the driven side connecting portion 82 has a column shape extending in the axial direction of the worm shaft 34. As shown in FIG. The center axis of the driven side connecting portion 82 coincides with the center axis L2 of the worm shaft 34, and is formed coaxially with the worm shaft 34. The driven side connecting portion 82 is formed to be slightly thinner than the driven shaft insertion hole 54. The driven side connecting portion 82 has a substantially elliptical cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the axial direction, and the cross-sectional shape is constant in the axial direction. In addition, when viewed in the axial direction, the longitudinal direction of the driven side connecting portion 82 is a direction parallel to the control surface 83, and the short direction of the driven side connecting portion 82 is a direction orthogonal to the control surface 83. (See also FIG. 6 (a)). As shown in FIG. 6B, when viewed from the direction of the central axis L2, the driven side connecting portion 82 has a point-symmetric shape with the central axis L2 of the worm shaft 34 as the center of symmetry.

A pair of first driven side transmission surfaces 84 and a pair of second driven side transmission surfaces 85 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the driven side coupling portion 82. Of the two first driven side transmission surfaces 84 forming a pair, one first driven side transmission surface 84 is formed 180 ° opposite to the other first driven side transmission surface 84. The two first driven side transmission surfaces 84 are each parallel to the axial direction and are parallel to each other. The interval between the two first driven side transmission surfaces 84 is formed to be equal to the interval between the pair of drive side transmission surfaces 54 a provided in the driven shaft insertion hole 54 of the driving side rotating body 42.

The second driven side transmission surface 85 is formed between the two first driven side transmission surfaces 84, and one second driven side transmission surface 85 is in relation to the other second driven side transmission surface 85. It is formed on the opposite side of 180 °. The two second driven side transmission surfaces 85 each have a planar shape parallel to the axial direction and are parallel to each other. Further, the distance between the two second driven side transmission surfaces 85 is formed to be equal to the distance between the pair of drive side transmission surfaces 54 a provided in the driven shaft insertion hole 54 of the driving side rotating body 42. The first driven side transmission surface 84 and the second driven side transmission surface 85 are formed in the axial direction from one end to the other end of the driven side coupling portion 82 in the axial direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the driven side rotating body 45 as described above is inserted into the clutch housing 41 and the support member 43 from the side opposite to the driving side rotating body 42. The driven-side rotator 45 is disposed coaxially with the clutch housing 41, the drive-side rotator 42 and the support member 43.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, the driven side connecting portion 82 is loosely fitted in the driven shaft insertion hole 54 so as to be able to rotate integrally with the driving side rotating body 42. The first and second elastic members 55 and 56 are interposed between the outer peripheral surface of the driven side connecting portion 82 loosely fitted in the driven shaft insertion hole 54 and the inner peripheral surface of the driven shaft insertion hole 54. Specifically, the pair of second elastic members 56 are in contact with both ends in the longitudinal direction of the driven side connecting portion 82 when viewed in the axial direction. The four first elastic members 55 are respectively interposed between the two first driven side transmission surfaces 84 and the two second driven side transmission surfaces 85 and the drive side transmission surface 54a.

When the driving side rotating body 42 rotates around the central axis with respect to the driven side rotating body 45, the driving side transmission surface 54a elastically deforms the first elastic member 55 and the first and second driven side transmission surfaces. It abuts on either one of 84 and 85 in the rotational direction. As a result, the drive-side rotator 42 and the driven-side rotator 45 are engaged in the rotation direction, and the rotational driving force of the drive-side rotator 42 is transmitted to the driven-side rotator 45.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6A, the control unit 81 of the driven side rotator 45 is arranged such that the rolling elements 44 are interposed between the control surfaces 83 and the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41. It is inserted inside the support member 43 and faces the clutch housing 41 and the rolling elements 44 in the radial direction. That is, the support member 43 holds the rolling element 44 between the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41 and each control surface 83 of the driven side rotating body 45.

And the distance (interval in the direction orthogonal to the control surface 83) between each control surface 83 and the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 changes in the rotational direction of the driven side rotating body 45. In the first embodiment, the distance between the control surface 83 and the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41 is the longest at the center in the circumferential direction of each control surface 83, and the circumferential direction from the center in the circumferential direction of each control surface 83. It gradually becomes shorter as it goes to both ends. Further, the distance between the center in the circumferential direction of each control surface 83 and the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 is longer than the maximum outer diameter D1 (see FIG. 5) of the rolling element 44 and each control surface 83. The distance between the circumferential end of the rolling housing 44 and the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41 is shorter than the maximum outer diameter D <b> 1 of the rolling element 44.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, in the clutch 40 of the first embodiment, grease GR is applied to the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41. The grease GR is disposed so as to be filled also in the space between the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41 and the first arc surface 72 a of the rolling element 44. The grease GR has an effect of increasing the sliding friction between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and the rolling element 44 when the rotating shaft 24 is not rotated (that is, when the driving side rotating body 42 is not rotated). There is. In the drawings other than FIG. 5, the illustration of the grease GR is omitted.

Next, the operation of the motor 10 configured as described above will be described together with its operation, focusing on the operation of the clutch 40.
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 7A, when the motor unit 20 is driven by energizing the motor unit 20, the drive side rotating body 42 rotates together with the rotating shaft 24. That is, the driving side rotating body 42 is rotationally driven. 7A and 7B illustrate a case where the drive side rotating body 42 is rotationally driven in the first direction R1. And as shown to Fig.7 (a), with the rotation of 1st direction R1 of the drive side rotary body 42, the circumferential direction of the rotation direction front side in each rolling element cancellation | release part 57 of the drive side rotary body 42 The end portion (elastic portion 58) contacts the first roller support 64a of each rolling element holding portion 62 in the rotational direction, and presses the first roller support 64a and the rolling element 44 in the first direction R1. As a result, each rolling element 44 is arranged at the center in the circumferential direction of each control surface 83 of the driven-side rotating body 45. That is, the rolling element 44 is not clamped between the control surface 83 and the clutch housing 41 (that is, does not hinder the rotation of the driven side rotating body 45), and is unlocked.

In the unlocked state, as shown in FIG. 7B, each drive-side transmission surface 54 a of the drive-side rotating body 42 is first connected to each second driven-side transmission surface 85 of the driven-side coupling portion 82. By abutting from the direction R1, the driving side rotating body 42 and the driven side rotating body 45 are coupled to the rotation direction X1 so as to be integrally rotatable. Thereby, the rotational driving force of the driving side rotating body 42 (rotating shaft 24) is transmitted to the driven side rotating body 45 (worm shaft 34), and the rotating shaft 24 and the worm shaft 34 are integrally rotated in the first direction R1. .

At this time, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7A, in the support member 43 and each rolling element 44, each first roller support 64a is pushed by each rolling element release portion 57 in the first direction R1. As a result, the drive-side rotator 42 and the driven-side rotator 45 rotate around the rotation axis of the drive-side rotator 42 (same as the central axis L1). Each rolling element 44 has a central axis L3 in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the support member 43 between the roller supports 64a and 64b that make a pair by a frictional force between the inner surface 41c of the clutch housing 41. Try to rotate around. When each rolling element 44 rotates around its central axis L3 by an amount allowed by the permissible gap G1 between each rolling element 44 and the roller supports 64a and 64b that hold the rolling element 44, the rolling elements 44 The roller supports 64a and 64b abut on both sides in the rotational direction X1. In the first embodiment, when the driving side rotating body 42 rotates in the first direction R1, each rolling element 44 has an end portion of the first facing surface 71a near the first arcuate surface 72a in the first contact. While abutting on the surface 68a, an end of the second facing surface 71b near the second arcuate surface 72b abuts on the second abutting surface 68b. Thereby, the rotation of each rolling element 44 around the central axis L <b> 3 is limited by the support member 43. Therefore, even if each rolling element 44 rotates around the rotation axis of the driving side rotating body 42 together with the driving side rotating body 42 when the driving side rotating body 42 is driven to rotate, the center axis L3 of each rolling element 44 is provided. It rotates only within the range allowed by the support member 43.

Then, the rotation of the worm shaft 34 in the first direction R1 is transmitted to the output shaft 38 while being decelerated between the worm wheel 37 and output from the output shaft 38. Then, the window glass of the vehicle is raised and lowered via a window regulator (not shown) according to the rotation direction of the output shaft 38. When the energization of the motor unit 20 is stopped, the rotational drive of the rotary shaft 24, that is, the rotational drive of the drive side rotating body 42 is stopped.

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, when the driving of the motor unit 20 is stopped, that is, when the rotating shaft 24 (driving side rotating body 42) is not rotated, the load side (first implementation) When a load is applied to the output shaft 38 from the side of the window regulator in the form, the driven side rotating body 45 tends to rotate due to the load. 8A and 8B illustrate a case where the driven-side rotator 45 attempts to rotate in the second direction R2. Then, each control surface 83 of the driven side rotating body 45 presses the rolling element 44 disposed between each control surface 83 and the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41 to the outer peripheral side. For the rolling element 44 pressed by the control surface 83, the first circular arc surface 72 a abuts against the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41 between the pair of roller supports 64 a and 64 b, and the same control on the control surface 83 is performed. The second arcuate surface 72b comes into contact with a portion closer to the end in the circumferential direction than the center in the circumferential direction of the surface 83 (the end on the rear side in the second direction R2 in the control surface 83). Each rolling element 44 is sandwiched between a portion of the control surface 83 near the rear end in the second direction R <b> 2 and the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41. Thereby, the rolling element 44 becomes a wedge, and the rotation (rotation in the second direction R2) of the driven side rotating body 45 is blocked (that is, the rotation of the worm shaft 34 is locked). Therefore, the output shaft 38 is prevented from rotating when the rotary shaft 24 (drive-side rotator 42) is not rotated. In the state (state shown in FIG. 8A) in which the driven-side rotator 45 is disposed at the lock position (position where the rolling element 44 is sandwiched between the driven housing 45 and the clutch housing 41), the state shown in FIG. As described above, each second driven side transmission surface 85 of the driven side connecting portion 82 does not come into contact with each driving side transmission surface 54a of the driving side rotating body 42 in the rotational direction (second direction R2).

Incidentally, even when the driven-side rotating body 45 tries to rotate in the first direction R1 when the motor unit 20 (driving-side rotating body 42) is not driven, the rotation of the driven-side rotating body 45 is similarly prevented. The That is, each rolling element 44 is sandwiched between a portion of the control surface 83 near the rear end in the first direction R1 and the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41, whereby each rolling element 44 is As a wedge, rotation of the driven-side rotator 45 (rotation in the first direction R1) is blocked (that is, rotation of the worm shaft 34 is locked).

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2, 9A and 9B, when the driving side rotating body 42 rotates in the second direction R2 together with the rotating shaft 24 by driving the motor unit 20, Although the rotation directions of the members are opposite to each other, the clutch 40 connects the rotary shaft 24 and the worm shaft 34 in the same operation as when the driving side rotating body 42 rotates in the first direction R1 (see FIG. 7). To do. That is, with the rotation of the driving side rotating body 42 in the second direction R2, the circumferential end (elastic portion 58) on the front side in the rotating direction of each rolling element release portion 57 of the driving side rotating body 42 is The second roller support 64b of the rolling element holding part 62 is brought into contact with the second roller support 64b in the rotational direction, and the second roller support 64b and the rolling element 44 are pressed in the second direction R2. As a result, each rolling element 44 is arranged at the center in the circumferential direction of each control surface 83 of the driven-side rotator 45, and is brought into an unlocked state that is not sandwiched between the control surface 83 and the clutch housing 41. In the unlocked state, each drive-side transmission surface 54a of the drive-side rotator 42 comes into contact with each first driven-side transmission surface 84 of the driven-side coupling portion 82 from the second direction R2, thereby driving-side rotator. The rotational driving force of 42 (rotating shaft 24) is transmitted to the driven side rotating body 45 (worm shaft 34), and the rotating shaft 24 and the worm shaft 34 rotate integrally in the second direction R2.

At this time, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9A, in the support member 43 and each rolling element 44, each second roller support 64b is pushed by each rolling element release portion 57 in the second direction R2. As a result, the drive-side rotator 42 and the driven-side rotator 45 rotate around the rotation axis of the drive-side rotator 42. Each rolling element 44 has a central axis L3 in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the support member 43 between the roller supports 64a and 64b that make a pair by a frictional force between the inner surface 41c of the clutch housing 41. Try to rotate around. When each rolling element 44 rotates around its central axis L3 by an amount allowed by the permissible gap G1 between each rolling element 44 and the roller supports 64a and 64b that hold the rolling element 44, the rolling elements 44 The roller supports 64a and 64b abut on both sides in the rotational direction X1. In the first embodiment, when the driving-side rotating body 42 rotates in the second direction R2, each rolling element 44 has an end portion of the first facing surface 71a near the second arcuate surface 72b in the first contact. While abutting on the surface 68a, an end of the second facing surface 71b near the first arc surface 72a abuts on the second abutting surface 68b. Thereby, the rotation of each rolling element 44 around the central axis L <b> 3 is limited by the support member 43. Therefore, even if each rolling element 44 rotates around the rotation axis of the driving side rotating body 42 together with the driving side rotating body 42 when the driving side rotating body 42 is driven to rotate, the center axis L3 of each rolling element 44 is provided. It rotates only within the range allowed by the support member 43.

When the rotation of the worm shaft 34 in the second direction R2 is transmitted to the output shaft 38 and output from the output shaft 38, the window of the vehicle is passed through a window regulator (not shown) according to the rotation direction of the output shaft 38. The glass is raised and lowered. When the energization of the motor unit 20 is stopped, the rotational drive of the rotary shaft 24, that is, the rotational drive of the drive side rotating body 42 is stopped. After the driving of the motor unit 20 is stopped, as described above, the rolling element 44 serves as a wedge to prevent the rotation of the driven side rotating body 45 (that is, the rotation of the worm shaft 34 is locked). The shaft 38 is prevented from being rotated (see FIG. 8A).

Next, advantageous effects of the first embodiment will be described.
(1) The rotation of each rolling element 44 around the central axis L <b> 3 of each rolling element 44 is limited by the support member 43. Therefore, even if each rolling element 44 rotates around the rotation axis of the driving side rotating body 42 together with the driving side rotating body 42 when the driving side rotating body 42 is driven to rotate, the center axis L3 of each rolling element 44 is provided. It rotates only within the range allowed by the support member 43. Accordingly, since the grease GR is prevented from being scattered due to the rotation of each rolling element 44 around its central axis L3, the grease GR between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and each rolling element 44 is insufficient. Can be suppressed. As a result, when the rotational drive of the drive side rotator 42 is stopped, each rolling element 44 is less likely to become a wedge between the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41 and the control surface 83 of the driven side rotator 45. This can be suppressed.

(2) When each rolling element 44 rotates around the central axis L3 of each rolling element 44 by an allowable gap G1 provided between each rolling element 44 and the roller supports 64a and 64b facing each other in the rotation direction X1. The roller supports 64a and 64b are in contact with each other in the rotation direction of the rolling elements 44. Thereby, each rolling element 44 is prevented from further rotation around the central axis L3 of each rolling element 44 by the roller supports 64a and 64b. Therefore, the scattering of the grease GR due to the rotation of each rolling element 44 around the central axis L3 of each rolling element 44 can be suppressed with a simple configuration. As a result, the shortage of the grease GR between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and each rolling element 44 can be easily suppressed.

Further, each rolling element 44 rotates around the central axis L3 of each rolling element 44 within a rotation range determined by providing an allowable gap G1 between each rolling element 44 and the roller supports 64a and 64b. be able to. That is, the posture of each rolling element 44 with respect to the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 can be changed around the central axis L3. Since the grease GR is moved between each rolling element 44 and the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 as the rolling element 44 rotates around the central axis L3 within the rotation range, each rolling element 44 is moved. In this case, the grease GR can be supplied to the portion in contact with the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41. Accordingly, it is possible to further suppress the shortage of the grease GR between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and each rolling element 44.

(3) When each rolling element 44 rotates about the center axis L3 of each rolling element 44 by the amount allowed by the permissible gap G1, it contacts the roller supports 64a and 64b on both sides in the rotational direction X1 of each rolling element 44, respectively. Touch. Therefore, the rolling element 44 that contacts the roller supports 64a and 64b can more stably maintain the posture that contacts the roller supports 64a and 64b. As a result, it is possible to suppress the generation of noise in the clutch 40 when the drive side rotating body 42 is driven to rotate.

(4) Each rolling element 44 has roller support 64a, 64b and planar first and second opposing surfaces 71a, 71b facing the rotation direction X1 on both sides in the rotation direction X1 of each rolling element 44. Therefore, it becomes easy to set the allowable gap G1 provided between each rolling element 44 and the roller supports 64a and 64b holding each rolling element 44. Moreover, since it is suppressed that the shape of each rolling element 44 is complicated, each rolling element 44 can be manufactured easily.

(5) At the start of the rotational drive of the drive-side rotator 42, the rotational drive force of the drive-side rotator 42 is transmitted from the rolling element release portion 57 to the roller supports 64a and 64b, and further from the roller supports 64a and 64b to the rolling elements 44. Is transmitted to. At this time, the roller supports 64a and 64b to which the rotational driving force is transmitted from the drive-side rotating body 42 have the first contact surface 68a or the second contact surface 68b on the first facing surface 71a of the rolling element 44 or By making surface contact with the second facing surface 71 b, the rotational driving force can be efficiently transmitted to the rolling elements 44. Therefore, it is possible to easily release the rolling element 44 between the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41 and the driven side rotating body 45.

(6) In the motor 10, the rotary shaft 24 and the worm shaft 34 are connected via the clutch 40 in which the grease GR between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and each rolling element 44 is suppressed from being insufficient. It is connected. Accordingly, the rotation of the rotary shaft 24 from the worm shaft 34 is further suppressed when the rotary shaft 24 is not rotated.

Note that the first embodiment may be modified as follows.
The rolling element 44 may have a grease accommodating recess that opens to the sliding contact range A1 on the outer peripheral surface of the rolling element 44 and accommodates the grease GR. In addition, the grease accommodating recess is formed so that the outer peripheral surface of the rolling element 44 remains in the sliding contact range A1, and is not formed over the entire sliding contact range A1.

For example, the rolling element 44 shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B has a grease accommodating recess 75 at one end in the axial direction of the rolling element 44 (the end on the base end side of the roller supports 64a and 64b). . The grease accommodating recess 75 opens to one side of the rolling element 44 in the axial direction and radially outward of the rolling element 44 (that is, toward the clutch housing 41). In addition, in FIG.10 (b), the dot is attached | subjected to the sliding contact range A1.

Further, for example, the rolling element 44 shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B has a grease accommodating recess 76 at the other end in the axial direction of the rolling element 44 (that is, the end on the tip side of the roller supports 64a and 64b). Have The grease accommodating recess 76 opens to the other side in the axial direction of the rolling element 44 and the radially outer side of the rolling element 44 (that is, toward the clutch housing 41).

And as shown to Fig.12 (a) and FIG.12 (b), the rolling element 44 may have the grease accommodating recessed parts 75 and 76 in the both ends of an axial direction.
Further, for example, the rolling elements 44 shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B have a grease accommodating recess 77 in the central portion in the axial direction. The grease accommodating recess 77 is recessed in the radial direction of the first arcuate surface 72a from a portion corresponding to the sliding contact range A1 in the first arcuate surface 72a of the rolling element 44.

14 (a) and 14 (b), the rolling element 44 has grease accommodating recesses 75 and 76 at both axial end portions, and further has a grease accommodating recess at the axial central portion. 77 may be included.

In the example shown in FIGS. 10A to 14B, the grease accommodating recesses 75, 76, and 77 all have a rectangular shape when viewed from the radial direction of the first arcuate surface 72a. However, the shape is not limited to this, and may be a circular shape, a polygonal shape, or the like. Moreover, the rolling element 44 may include four or more grease-accommodating recesses that open to the sliding contact range A1.

In this way, the grease receiving recesses 75, 76, and 77 provided in the rolling element 44 are opened in the sliding contact range A 1 that can be slidably contacted with the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41. Therefore, the grease GR accommodated in the grease accommodating recesses 75, 76, 77 is pulled out toward the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41 along with the rotation of the rolling element 44, and the inner periphery of the rolling element 44 and the clutch housing 41. Supplied between the surface 41c. Accordingly, it is possible to further suppress the shortage of the grease GR between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and the rolling element 44. As a result, when the rotational drive of the driving side rotating body 42 is stopped, the rolling element 44 is less likely to become a wedge between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and the control surface 83 of the driven side rotating body 45. Can be further suppressed.

The rolling element 44 is restricted by the support member 43 from rotating around the central axis L3 of the rolling element 44. Therefore, in the outer peripheral surface of the rolling element 44, the curvature of the portion that can contact the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and the portion that can contact the control surface 83 of the driven-side rotating body 45 can be made different. Therefore, in the first embodiment, in each rolling element 44, the first arc surface 72a and the second arc surface 72b have the same curvature, but may have different curvatures.

For example, as shown in FIG. 15, the second arcuate surface 72 c that contacts the control surface 83 of the driven-side rotator 45 is more curved than the first arcuate surface 72 a that contacts the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41. It is good also as a small circular arc shape. In this way, the wedge angle θ1 when the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and the control surface 83 of the driven side rotating body 45 sandwich the rolling element 44 as a wedge is set, and the entire outer peripheral surface of the rolling element 44 is the first. It can be made smaller than the case of the curvature of the circular arc surface 72a (that is, in the case of a cylindrical shape). Then, when the rotational driving of the driving side rotating body 42 is stopped, the angle at which the driven side rotating body 45 rotates until the rolling element 44 is sandwiched between the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41 and the control surface 83. Is smaller than the case where the entire outer peripheral surface of the rolling element 44 has the curvature of the first arc surface 72a. Therefore, when the driven-side rotating body 45 tries to rotate when the driving-side rotating body 42 is not driven to rotate, the driven-side rotating body 44 rotates as compared with the case where the entire outer peripheral surface of the rolling body 44 has the curvature of the first arcuate surface 72a. When the rotational speed of the body 45 is smaller, the rolling element 44 can be held between the driven side rotating body 45 and the clutch housing 41. Therefore, when trying to rotate from the driven side rotating body 45, the rolling body 44 can be held between the driven side rotating body 45 and the clutch housing 41 at an earlier stage. When stopped, the rotation of the driven-side rotator 45 can be quickly prevented.

As shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, the support member 43 may have a contact portion 69. The abutting portion 69 is moved radially outward when the roller supports 64a and 64b are pressed by the rolling elements 44 that are about to rotate about the central axis L3 when the driving side rotating body 42 is not rotated. It contacts the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the housing 41. Specifically, in the support member 43, on both sides in the circumferential direction (rotation direction X1) of the rolling element holding portion 62, the radially outer side surface of the connecting portion 66 is radially outward (that is, toward the clutch housing 41). A protruding contact portion 69 is provided. When the rolling element 44 is not sandwiched between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and the control surface 83 of the driven side rotating body 45 (for example, in the state shown in FIG. 16A), the abutting portion 69 is provided. The clutch housing 41 is positioned away from the inner peripheral surface 41c. Then, as shown in FIG. 16B, when the driven side rotating body 45 tries to rotate when the driving side rotating body 42 is not rotated, the rolling body 44 is sandwiched between the driven side rotating body 45 and the clutch housing 41. In the meantime, the rolling element 44 is rotated around its central axis L3 by the frictional force with the driven side rotating body 45. FIG. 16B illustrates a state in which the driven side rotating body 45 is about to rotate in the second direction R2. Then, since the maximum outer diameter D1 of the rolling element 44 is longer than the distance D2 between the roller supports 64a and 64b, the rolling element 44 rotates around the central axis L3 to rotate the roller supports 64a and 64b from the rotational direction around the central axis L3. After the contact, the roller supports 64a and 64b are further pressed away from each other. The paired roller supports 64a and 64b move outward in the radial direction by moving in a direction away from each other. That is, the roller supports 64a and 64b are moved radially outward by being pressed by the rolling elements 44 rotated around the central axis L3. Then, the support member 43 is elastically deformed, and the connecting portion 66 provided integrally with the roller supports 64a and 64b is moved outward in the radial direction. As a result, the contact portion 69 is moved outward in the radial direction, and the clutch housing. 41 abuts against the inner peripheral surface 41c of 41. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the rolling element 44 from moving in the rotation direction X1 of the driving side rotating body 42 even by the frictional force generated between the contact portion 69 and the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41. Accordingly, since the rolling element 44 is more easily sandwiched between the driven side rotating body 45 and the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41, the rotation of the driven side rotating body 45 is further increased when the driving side rotating body 42 is not rotated. It becomes easy to stop. Even when the load applied to the output shaft 38 becomes larger, in addition to the frictional force between the rolling element 44 and the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41, the abutting portion 69 and the inner periphery of the clutch housing 41 are also provided. Since the frictional force with the surface 41 c acts so as to prevent the driven side rotating body 45 from rotating, it is easy to prevent the driven side rotating body 45 from rotating.

In addition, when the holding of the rolling element 44 by the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and the driven side rotating body 45 is released at the start of the rotational driving of the driving side rotating body 42, the support member 43 returns to the original shape. The contact portion 69 is separated from the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41.

In the example shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, the contact portion 69 has a shape protruding radially outward from the connecting portion 66 of the support member 43, but the shape of the contact portion 69 is Not limited to this. The contact portion moves outward in the radial direction when the roller supports 64a and 64b are moved outward in the radial direction by the rolling element 44 about to rotate around the central axis L3 when the drive side rotating body 42 is not rotated. As long as it is in contact with the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41. For example, you may comprise so that the outer peripheral surface of the connection part 66, the radial direction outer side surface of roller support 64a, 64b, etc. may become a contact part.

In the first embodiment, the portions of the roller supports 64a and 64b with which the rolling elements 44 that rotate about the central axis L3 come into contact are planar first and second contact surfaces 68a and 68b. However, the first and second contact surfaces 68a and 68b with which the rolling element 44 rotated around the central axis L3 contacts may not necessarily be planar. For example, the first and second contact surfaces 68a and 68b may have an arc shape when viewed from the axial direction.

In the first embodiment, the rolling element 44 has planar first and second opposing surfaces 71a and 71b on both sides in the rotational direction X1. However, the first and second opposing surfaces 71a and 71b, which are portions that contact the roller supports 64a and 64b when the rolling member 44 rotates around the central axis L3 in the rolling member 44, are not necessarily flat. Also good. That is, the rolling element 44 does not necessarily have a two-plane width shape. The rolling element 44 may be any shape as long as the shape seen from the axial direction has a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, and has a column shape extending in the axial direction. For example, the rolling element 44 may have first and second opposing surfaces 71a and 71b whose arc viewed from the axial direction has an arc shape (however, the rolling element 44 is not cylindrical). . Further, for example, the rolling element 44 may have an elliptical shape when viewed from the axial direction.

In the first embodiment, when the rolling element 44 rotates around the central axis L3 of the rolling element 44 by the amount allowed by the allowable gap G1, the roller supports 64a and 64b are formed on both sides of the rolling element 44 in the rotation direction X1. Abut. However, when the rolling element 44 rotates around the central axis L3 of the rolling element 44 by an amount permitted by the allowable gap G1, the rolling element 44 contacts the roller support 64a or the roller support 64b only on one side in the rotational direction X1 of the rolling element 44. It may be in contact. In this case, the rolling element 44 is formed in, for example, a shape in which a part of the outer periphery of the cylinder is planar (substantially D shape in the axial direction).

In the first embodiment, the allowable range G1 is provided between the paired roller supports 64a and 64b and the rolling element 44, thereby limiting the rotation range around the central axis L3 of the rolling element 44. However, if the rotation of the rolling element 44 around the central axis L3 is limited, the permissible gap G1 is not necessarily provided between the roller supports 64a and 64b and the rolling element 44. For example, the first opposing surface 71a of the rolling element 44 and the first abutting surface 68a of the roller support 64a are always in contact with each other, and the second opposing surface 71b of the rolling element 44 and the second opposing surface of the roller support 64b are in contact with each other. It is good also as a structure which always contact | abutted with the contact surface 68b. If it does in this way, rotation around the central axis L3 is restricted by roller supports 64a and 64b so that it may not rotate about the central axis L3. Even in this case, since the scattering of the grease GR due to the rotation of the rolling element 44 around the central axis L3 is suppressed, the grease GR between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and each rolling element 44 is reduced. The shortage can be suppressed.

· The roller supports 64a and 64b may be changed as shown in FIG. Protruding pieces 64x are respectively provided on the radially outer portions of the paired roller supports 64a and 64b. The protruding pieces 64x extend along the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 (along the rotational direction X1 of the driving side rotating body 42) so as to face each other with the rolling element 44 interposed therebetween. The movement of the rolling element 44 to the outside in the radial direction or the like is restricted by the protruding pieces 64x. In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and the like, the tip of each protruding piece 64x has an acute-angled protrusion shape. However, in the example shown in FIG. 17, a tip surface 64y is provided at the tip of each protruding piece 64x. It has been. Each distal end surface 64y is parallel to one plane parallel to each other, specifically, to a radial straight line connecting the central axis L1 of the rotating shaft 24 (the central axis L2 of the worm shaft 34) and the central axis L3 of the rolling element 44. It is a plane.

The operation of the roller supports 64a and 64b will be described as a representative case where the drive side rotating body 42 and the support member 43 are rotated in the first direction R1 by driving the motor unit 20. When the driving side rotating body 42 and the support member 43 rotate in the first direction R1, the first roller support 64a pushed by the driving side rotating body 42 circulates in the same direction. At that time, the protruding piece 64x of the roller support 64a advances so as to scrape the grease GR, but the grease GR moves toward the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 at the tip surface 64y provided at the tip of the protruding piece 64x. A flow occurs (in FIG. 17, an arrow α). As a result, the grease GR is easily held between the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41 and the first arc surface 72 a of the rolling element 44.

Further, if the gap G2 between the protruding piece 64x and the first arcuate surface 72a of the rolling element 44 is set to be small due to the provision of the tip face 64y at the tip of the protruding piece 64x, the grease to the gap G2 is set. It is possible to suppress the escape of GR. This also promotes the flow of the grease GR toward the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41 described above, and the relationship between the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41 and the first circular arc surface 72 a of the rolling element 44. This contributes to a situation in which the grease GR is easily held in between.

In addition, the shape and direction of the tip surface 64y of each protruding piece 64x are examples, and may be changed as appropriate. For example, the tip surface 64y may not be a single plane. Further, even if the tip surface 64y is not a surface parallel to the above-described radial straight line, the tip surface 64y intersects the surface that allows the above-described flow of the grease GR, that is, the rotation direction X1 of the drive-side rotator 42. Any surface can be used.

In the first embodiment, the grease GR is applied to the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41. However, as long as the grease GR is disposed at least between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and the rolling element 44, the arrangement position is not limited to the position of the first embodiment.

The shapes of the clutch housing 41, the driving side rotating body 42, the support member 43, the rolling element 44, and the driven side rotating body 45 constituting the clutch 40 are not necessarily the shapes of the first embodiment. For example, the driving side rotating body 42 may be formed integrally with the rotating shaft 24. Further, for example, the driven-side rotator 45 may be provided separately from the worm shaft 34 and assembled so as to be rotatable integrally with the worm shaft 34. Further, the number of rolling elements 44 is not limited to two, and it is sufficient that at least one rolling element 44 is disposed between the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41 and the driven side rotating body 45.

In the first embodiment, the speed reduction mechanism 32 included in the output unit 30 includes the worm shaft 34 and the worm wheel 37, but the number of gears included in the speed reduction mechanism 32 may be changed as appropriate. Further, the speed reduction mechanism 32 may not necessarily be a worm speed reduction mechanism as long as it has a driven shaft connected to the rotation shaft 24 via the clutch 40. Further, the output unit 30 does not necessarily include the speed reduction mechanism 32 as long as it has a driven shaft connected to the rotation shaft 24 via the clutch 40 and can output the rotation transmitted from the rotation shaft 24. Also good.

-In 1st Embodiment, although the motor 10 is used as a drive source of a power window apparatus, it may be used for the drive source of another apparatus.
In the first embodiment, the clutch 40 is provided in the motor 10 and connects the rotary shaft 24 and the worm shaft 34 of the speed reduction mechanism 32. However, the clutch 40 may be provided in a device other than the motor 10 and connect a rotating shaft that is rotationally driven to a driven shaft that is transmitted with the rotational driving force of the rotating shaft.

Second Embodiment
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of a motor provided with a clutch will be described. Note that in the second embodiment, the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment are given to the same configurations and corresponding configurations as those in the first embodiment, and description thereof is omitted.

19 and 20, the support member 43 holds the rolling element 144 between the clutch housing 41 and the driven side rotating body 45 that are opposed in the radial direction. The support member 43 of the second embodiment is made of resin.

As shown in FIGS. 20, 21A and 21B, each of the rolling element holding portions 62 extends radially inward from the ring portion 61 in the direction of the rolling element 144 and the central axis L1 (that is, driving). It has an axially facing portion (axial support portion) 63 that faces the rotational body 42 in the rotational axis direction. Further, each rolling element holding portion 62 is connected to the ring portion 61 along the direction of the central axis L1 from both end portions in the rotation direction X1 of the drive side rotating body 42 in the axial facing portion 63 (both end portions in the left and right direction in FIG. 21). It has a pair of roller supports 164a and 164b (rotation direction facing portions) extended to the opposite side (downward in FIG. 21A). Each of the roller supports 164a and 164b functions as a rotation direction holding unit. The rotation direction X1 of the drive side rotating body 42 is the same as the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft 24 and the circumferential direction of the clutch 40, and is hereinafter referred to as a rotation direction X1. In each rolling element holding part 62, the pair of roller supports 164a, 164b are located on both sides of the rolling element 144 in the rotational direction X1 from the axially facing part 63, project in the direction of the central axis L1, and rotate the rolling element 144 in the rotational direction. Hold from both sides of X1. Specifically, in each rolling element holding portion 62, the paired roller supports 164a and 164b are positioned on both sides of the rolling element 144 in the rotation direction X1, and the central axis L3 of the rolling element 144 is the central axis line of the rolling element 144. It is held from both sides of the rotation direction X1 so as to be parallel to L1. It should be noted that the roller supports 164a and 164b that form pairs of the respective rolling element holding portions 62 are seen from the motor portion 20 in the axial direction (that is, the state shown in FIG. The roller support positioned on the clockwise side is referred to as a first roller support 164a, and the roller support positioned on the clockwise side with respect to the rolling element 144 is referred to as a second roller support 164b.

Further, in the support member 43, the tip end portion of the first roller support 164 a of one rolling element holding portion 62 and the tip end portion of the second roller support 164 b of the other rolling element holding portion 62 are connected to each other by a connecting portion 166. ing. The connecting portion 166 has an arc shape centered on the central axis lines L1 and L2 when viewed in the axial direction.

Further, at the tip of each roller support 164a, 164b, a holding claw (support member side engagement portion) protruding toward the rolling element 144 disposed between the paired first and second roller supports 164a, 164b. 167 is provided. Each holding claw 167 extends along the distal end surface of the roller support 164a, 164b toward the rolling element 144 between the pair of roller supports 164a, 164b, and then between the pair of roller supports 164a, 164b. The roller supports 164a and 164b are bent toward the base end side and further extend along the central axis L1. In each holding claw 167, the distal end surface of the engagement holding portion 167a, which is a portion extending in the direction of the central axis L1 between the paired roller supports 164a and 164b, is in contact with and held in a planar shape perpendicular to the central axis L1. Surface 167b is formed. The contact holding surface 167b faces the axially facing portion 63. Further, in the engagement holding portions 167a of the holding claws 167 provided on the paired roller supports 164a and 164b, the side surfaces facing each other in the rotation direction X1 are parallel to each other and have a planar shape parallel to the direction of the central axis L1. The regulation surface 167c is formed.

As shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B, each rolling element 144 is made of resin and has a substantially cylindrical shape. Further, each rolling element 144 is held by the support member 43 so that the center axis L3 thereof is parallel to the center axes L1 and L2.

A pair of first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172 are provided at both ends of each rolling element 144 in the direction of the central axis L3. The first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172 each function as a rolling element side engaging portion. That is, each rolling element 144 has two pairs of first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172. In the second embodiment, in each rolling element 144, the first engagement recess 171 is provided in a portion facing the first roller support 164a in the rotation direction X1, and the second engagement recess 172 is provided at a portion facing the second roller support 164b in the rotation direction X1.

The first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172 that form a pair are at the end in the direction of the central axis L3 of the rolling element 144 and in a direction orthogonal to the central axis L3 (that is, the diameter direction of the rolling element 144) In FIG. 21 (b), it is recessed on both sides. And the 1st and 2nd engagement recessed parts 171 and 172 are recessedly provided in the direction orthogonal to the central axis L3 so that the width | variety of the rolling element 144 may be narrowed in the edge part of the central axis L3 direction of the rolling element 144. Yes. In addition, the first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172 are formed at the ends of the rolling element 144 in the direction of the central axis L3 and on both sides of the rolling element 144 in the direction perpendicular to the central axis L3. It penetrates in the vertical direction in FIG. Further, the first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172 are arranged on the outer side in the diameter direction of the rolling element 144 and on one side in the direction of the central axis L3 (that is, on the side opposite to the central part of the rolling element 144 in the direction of the central axis L3). It is open. And the 1st and 2nd engaging recessed parts 171 and 172 which make a pair have a rotationally symmetric relationship which makes the central axis L3 an axis of symmetry. That is, the engagement recesses 171 and 172 have the same shape, although the opening directions are different.

Further, the inner peripheral surface of the first engaging recess 171 has a first locking surface 171a having a planar shape perpendicular to the direction of the central axis L3, and a first contact having a planar shape parallel to the central axis L3. It is comprised from the surface 171b. The first contact surface 171b functions as a parallel surface. Similarly, the inner peripheral surface of the second engaging recess 172 has a second locking surface 172a having a planar shape perpendicular to the direction of the central axis L3 and a second contact surface having a planar shape parallel to the central axis L3. And a contact surface 172b. The second contact surface 172b functions as a parallel surface. And in the 1st and 2nd engagement recessed parts 171 and 172 which make a pair, the 1st contact surface 171b and the 2nd contact surface 172b have comprised in parallel.

Further, in each rolling element 144, a portion between the first engagement recess 171 and the second engagement recess 172 that make a pair (that is, the first contact surface 171b and the second contact surface 172b) Between the first and second locking surfaces 171a and 172a) is defined as an inter-concave portion 173. In the second embodiment, the inter-recess portion 173 has a two-sided width shape having a pair of first and second contact surfaces 171b and 172b that are parallel to each other. Moreover, each recessed part 173 has comprised the shape which has a longitudinal direction and a transversal direction when it sees from the center axis line L3 direction. Specifically, each recess-to-recess portion 173 has a longitudinal direction parallel to the first and second contact surfaces 171b and 172b when viewed from the direction of the central axis L3, and the first and second contact surfaces 171b and 172b. The direction orthogonal to is the short direction. In the state shown in FIG. 21 (b), each rolling element 144 has the longitudinal direction of the inter-concave portion 173 along the radial direction of the clutch 40, and the short direction of the inter-concave portion 173 is the clutch 40. It is arrange | positioned along the circumferential direction. Further, in each rolling element 144, the portion between the two inter-recess portions 173 at both ends in the direction of the central axis L <b> 3 has a cylindrical shape having an outer diameter equal to the maximum outer diameter of the inter-recess portion 173.

A rolling element 144 is disposed between the paired roller supports 164a and 164b. An engagement holding portion 167a of a holding claw 167 provided at the tip of the roller support 164a is located in the first engagement recess 171 located on the tip side of the first roller support 164a (that is, the lower side in FIG. 21A). Has been inserted. Furthermore, the engagement holding portion of the holding claw 167 provided at the tip of the roller support 164b in the second engagement recess 172 located on the tip side of the second roller support 164b (that is, the lower side in FIG. 21A). 167a is inserted. That is, the first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172 of the rolling element 144 are engaged with the holding claws 167 (engagement holding portions 167a) of the roller supports 164a and 164b. Then, the contact holding surface 167b of the holding claw 167 inserted into the first and second engaging recesses 171 contacts the first and second locking surfaces 171a and 172a from the direction of the central axis L1. The rolling element 144 is prevented from falling off from the rolling element holding part 62 in the axial direction by the holding claws 167.

As shown in FIGS. 19 and 23 (a), the two rolling elements 144 are equiangularly spaced in the rotational direction X1 (ie, 180 ° apart in the second embodiment) by being held by the support member 43 having the above-described configuration. ). Further, since the roller supports 164a and 164b holding the rolling elements 144 are inserted and arranged inside the clutch housing 41, the respective rolling elements 144 are arranged radially with the clutch housing 41 inside the clutch housing 41. Opposite to. The outer peripheral surface of each rolling element 144 is radially opposed to the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41, and can contact the inner peripheral surface 41c between the pair of roller supports 164a and 164b. . Further, the outer peripheral surface of each rolling element 144 is opposed to the driven-side rotator 45 in the radial direction and can contact the driven-side rotator 45. The support member 43 can rotate relative to the clutch housing 41 in the rotation direction X1.

Further, each rolling element release portion 57 of the drive side rotating body 42 is inserted inside the clutch housing 41 through the inner peripheral side of the ring portion 61 of the support member 43. Furthermore, each rolling element release part 57 is arrange | positioned between the two rolling element holding parts 62, respectively, and adjoins each rolling element holding part 62 in the circumferential direction. Therefore, both end portions (respective elastic portions 58) in the rotation direction X1 of each rolling element release portion 57 are the first roller support 164a of one rolling element holding portion 62 and the second roller support 164b of the other rolling element holding portion 62. And the rotation direction X1. The support member 43 and the drive-side rotator 42 can rotate relative to each other in the rotation direction X1, and when the drive-side rotator 42 rotates, each rolling element release portion 57 is axially located on the front side in the rotation direction. The abutting portion 63 and the roller supports 164a and 164b are brought into contact with each other.

Here, as shown in FIG. 22, in each rolling element 144, the length in the longitudinal direction of the inter-recess portion 173 (that is, the maximum outer diameter of the inter-recess portion 173) D4 is 2 of the pair of roller supports 164a and 164b. It is longer than the distance D5 between the restricting surfaces 167c of the two holding claws 167. Further, in each rolling element 144, the length in the short direction (that is, the length between the first contact surface 171b and the second contact surface 172b) D6 of the inter-concave portion 173 is set in the rotation direction X1. It is shorter than the distance D5 between the opposing regulation surfaces 167c. Therefore, between the two holding claws 167 of the roller supports 164a and 164b that make a pair and the concave portion 173 of the rolling element 144 arranged between the holding claws 167, the rolling element 144 around the central axis L3 is provided. An allowable gap G3 for determining the rotation range is provided. Specifically, the allowable gap G3 is formed between the first contact surface 171b and the regulation surface 167c facing the rotation direction X1, and between the second contact surface 172b and the regulation surface 167c facing the rotation direction X1. Is present in at least one of them. Therefore, each rolling element 144 can rotate around the central axis L3 by an amount allowed by the allowable gap G3. When the rolling element 144 rotates around the central axis L3 and the first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172 rotate around the central axis, the rolling element 144 rotates by the amount allowed by the allowable gap G3. By the way, the first and second contact surfaces 171b and 172b contact the holding claws 167 (engagement holding portions 167a) from the rotation direction, respectively. Thereby, the rotation of the first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172 around the central axis L3 is restricted, and the further rotation of the rolling element 144 around the central axis L3 is prevented. In this way, each rolling element 144 is restricted from rotating about the central axis L3 by the engaged holding claws 167 and the first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172.

When the rolling element 144 rotates clockwise around the central axis L3 between the pair of roller supports 164a and 164b when viewed in the axial direction from the output unit 30 (that is, the state shown in FIG. 22), As illustrated, in the rolling element 144, the first contact surface 171b contacts the radially outer end of the regulation surface 167c facing the first contact surface 171b. Further, in the rolling element 144, the second contact surface 172b contacts the end portion on the radially inner side of the regulation surface 167c facing the second contact surface 172b. On the other hand, when the rolling element 144 rotates counterclockwise around the central axis L3 between the pair of roller supports 164a and 164b when viewed in the axial direction from the output unit 30, the same as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. In the rolling element 144, the first contact surface 171b contacts the radially inner end of the restriction surface 167c facing the first contact surface 171b. Further, in the rolling element 144, the second contact surface 172b contacts the radially outer end of the regulation surface 167c facing the second contact surface 172b. As described above, the rotation of the rolling element 144 around the central axis L3 is limited by the engaged holding claws 167 and the first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172, so that on the outer peripheral surface of the rolling element 144, A slidable contact range A2 that is slidable with the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 is determined. And the rolling element 144 can contact the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 through a portion corresponding to the sliding contact range A2 on the outer peripheral surface between the pair of roller supports 164a and 164b.

Next, the operation of the motor 10 configured as described above will be described together with its operation, focusing on the operation of the clutch 40.
As shown in FIG. 19 and FIG. 24A, when the motor unit 20 is driven by energizing the motor unit 20, the driving side rotating body 42 rotates together with the rotating shaft 24. That is, the driving side rotating body 42 is rotationally driven. 24A and 24B illustrate a case where the drive side rotating body 42 is rotationally driven in the first direction R1. And as shown to Fig.24 (a), with the rotation of 1st direction R1 of the drive side rotary body 42, the circumferential direction of the rotation direction front side in each rolling element cancellation | release part 57 of the drive side rotary body 42 The end portion (elastic portion 58) is in contact with the axially facing portion 63 of each rolling element holding portion 62 and the first roller support 164a in the rotation direction, and transmits the rotational driving force of the driving side rotating body 42. As a result, the first roller support 164a presses the rolling element 144 in the first direction R1. Thereby, each rolling element 144 is arrange | positioned in the center part of the circumferential direction of each control surface 83 of the driven side rotary body 45. As shown in FIG. In other words, the rolling element 144 is not clamped between the control surface 83 and the clutch housing 41 (that is, does not hinder the rotation of the driven side rotating body 45), and is in an unlocked state.

In the unlocked state, as shown in FIG. 24 (b), each drive-side transmission surface 54 a of the drive-side rotating body 42 is first connected to each second driven-side transmission surface 85 of the driven-side coupling portion 82. By abutting from the direction R1, the driving side rotating body 42 and the driven side rotating body 45 are coupled to the rotation direction X1 so as to be integrally rotatable. Thereby, the rotational driving force of the driving side rotating body 42 (rotating shaft 24) is transmitted to the driven side rotating body 45 (worm shaft 34), and the rotating shaft 24 and the worm shaft 34 are integrally rotated in the first direction R1. .

At this time, as shown in FIG. 22 and FIG. 24A, the support member 43 and each rolling element 144 have the respective axial facing portions 63 and the respective first roller supports 164a connected to the respective rolling element release portions 57. By being pushed in the first direction R1, the drive-side rotator 42 and the driven-side rotator 45 rotate around the rotation axis of the drive-side rotator 42 (same as the central axis L1). Each rolling element 144 has its center axis L3 in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the support member 43 between the roller supports 164a and 164b that make a pair by the frictional force with the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41. Try to rotate around. When each rolling element 144 rotates about its central axis L3 by an amount allowed by the allowable gap G3 between the holding claws 167 (engagement holding portions 167a) of the roller supports 164a and 164b that hold the respective rolling elements 144, The inner peripheral surfaces of the first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172 rotated around the central axis L <b> 3 in the moving body 144 abut on the engaging holding portion 167 a of the holding claw 167. In the second embodiment, when the drive-side rotating body 42 rotates in the first direction R1, the first contact surface 171b of each rolling element 144 rotated around the central axis L3 is the same as the first contact surface 171b. The second contact surface 172b is in contact with the radially outer end of the regulation surface 167c facing the contact surface 171b, and the radially inner end of the regulation surface 167c facing the second contact surface 172b. Abut. Thereby, each rolling element 144 is restricted from rotating around the central axis L3 by the engaged holding claws 167 (engagement holding portion 167a) and the first and second engagement recesses 171 and 172. Therefore, even if each rolling element 144 rotates around the rotation axis of the driving side rotating body 42 together with the driving side rotating body 42 when the driving side rotating body 42 is driven to rotate, the center axis L3 of each rolling element 144 is obtained. The rotating member rotates only within the range permitted by the engaged holding claws 167 and the first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172.

18 and 24A, the rotation of the worm shaft 34 in the first direction R1 is transmitted to the output shaft 38 while being decelerated between the worm wheel 37 and the output shaft 38. Is output from. Then, the window glass of the vehicle is raised and lowered via a window regulator (not shown) according to the rotation direction of the output shaft 38. When the energization of the motor unit 20 is stopped, the rotational drive of the rotary shaft 24, that is, the rotational drive of the drive side rotating body 42 is stopped.

As shown in FIGS. 25A and 25B, when the driving of the motor unit 20 is stopped, that is, when the rotating shaft 24 (driving side rotating body 42) is not rotated, the load side (that is, the second side) In the embodiment, when a load is applied to the output shaft 38 from the side of the window regulator), the driven side rotating body 45 tends to rotate due to the load. FIGS. 25A and 25B illustrate a case where the driven-side rotator 45 attempts to rotate in the second direction R2. Then, each control surface 83 of the driven side rotating body 45 presses the rolling element 144 disposed between each control surface 83 and the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41 to the outer peripheral side. The rolling element 144 pushed by the control surface 83 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 between the pair of roller supports 164a and 164b, and the control surface 83 is centered in the circumferential direction of the control surface 83. It is in contact with a portion closer to the end in the circumferential direction (that is, the end on the control surface 83 on the rear side in the second direction R2). Each rolling element 144 is sandwiched between the portion of the control surface 83 near the end on the rear side in the second direction R <b> 2 and the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41. Thereby, the rolling element 144 becomes a wedge, and the rotation of the driven side rotating body 45 (rotation in the second direction R2) is blocked (that is, the rotation of the worm shaft 34 is locked). Therefore, the output shaft 38 is prevented from rotating when the rotary shaft 24 (drive-side rotator 42) is not rotated. In the state (the state shown in FIG. 25A) in which the driven-side rotator 45 is disposed in the locked position (that is, the position where the rolling element 144 is sandwiched between the driven housing 45 and the clutch housing 41), the state shown in FIG. As shown, each second driven side transmission surface 85 of the driven side coupling portion 82 does not come into contact with each driving side transmission surface 54a of the driving side rotating body 42 in the rotational direction (second direction R2). .

Incidentally, even when the driven-side rotating body 45 tries to rotate in the first direction R1 when the motor unit 20 (driving-side rotating body 42) is not driven, the rotation of the driven-side rotating body 45 is similarly prevented. The That is, each rolling element 144 is sandwiched between a portion of the control surface 83 near the rear end in the first direction R1 and the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41, whereby each rolling element 144 is As a wedge, rotation of the driven-side rotator 45 (rotation in the first direction R1) is blocked (that is, rotation of the worm shaft 34 is locked).

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 19, 26 (a) and 26 (b), when the drive side rotating body 42 rotates in the second direction R <b> 2 together with the rotating shaft 24 by driving the motor unit 20, Although the rotation directions of the members are opposite to each other, the clutch 40 connects the rotary shaft 24 and the worm shaft 34 in the same operation as when the driving side rotating body 42 rotates in the first direction R1 (see FIG. 24). To do. That is, with the rotation of the driving side rotating body 42 in the second direction R2, the circumferential end (elastic portion 58) on the front side in the rotating direction of each rolling element release portion 57 of the driving side rotating body 42 is The rotational driving force of the driving side rotating body 42 is transmitted by contacting the axially facing portion 63 of the rolling element holding portion 62 and the second roller support 164b in the rotational direction. As a result, the second roller support 164b presses the rolling element 144 in the second direction R2. As a result, each rolling element 144 is disposed at the center in the circumferential direction of each control surface 83 of the driven-side rotating body 45, and is brought into an unlocked state where it is not sandwiched between the control surface 83 and the clutch housing 41. In the unlocked state, each drive-side transmission surface 54a of the drive-side rotator 42 comes into contact with each first driven-side transmission surface 84 of the driven-side coupling portion 82 from the second direction R2, thereby driving-side rotator. The rotational driving force of 42 (rotating shaft 24) is transmitted to the driven side rotating body 45 (worm shaft 34), and the rotating shaft 24 and the worm shaft 34 rotate integrally in the second direction R2.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 22 and FIG. 26A, the support member 43 and each rolling element 144 have the respective axial facing portions 63 and the respective second roller supports 164b connected to the respective rolling element release portions 57. By being pushed in the direction R2, the rotation is performed around the rotation axis of the driving side rotating body 42 together with the driving side rotating body 42 and the driven side rotating body 45. Each rolling element 144 has its center axis L3 in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the support member 43 between the roller supports 164a and 164b that make a pair by the frictional force with the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41. Try to rotate around. Each rolling element 144 has a central axis that is allowed by a permissible gap G3 between each rolling element 144 and the holding claws 167 (engagement holding portions 167a) of the roller supports 164a and 164b that hold the rolling element 144. When rotating around L3, the inner peripheral surfaces of the first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172 rotated around the central axis L3 in each rolling element 144 abut against the engaging holding portion 167a of the holding claw 167. In the second embodiment, when the drive-side rotating body 42 rotates in the second direction R2, the first contact surface 171b of each rolling element 144 rotated around the central axis L3 is the same as the first contact surface 171b. The second contact surface 172b is in contact with the radially inner end of the regulation surface 167c facing the contact surface 171b, and the radially outer end of the regulation surface 167c facing the second contact surface 172b. Abut. Thereby, each rolling element 144 is restricted from rotating around the central axis L3 by the engaged holding claws 167 (engagement holding portion 167a) and the first and second engagement recesses 171 and 172. Therefore, even if each rolling element 144 rotates around the rotation axis of the driving side rotating body 42 together with the driving side rotating body 42 when the driving side rotating body 42 is driven to rotate, the center axis L3 of each rolling element 144 is obtained. The rotating member rotates only within the range permitted by the engaged holding claws 167 and the first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 26A, when the rotation of the worm shaft 34 in the second direction R2 is transmitted to the output shaft 38 and output from the output shaft 38, the rotation direction of the output shaft 38 Accordingly, the window glass of the vehicle is raised and lowered via a window regulator (not shown). Thereafter, when the energization of the motor unit 20 is stopped, the rotational drive of the rotating shaft 24 (drive side rotating body 42) is stopped. After the driving of the motor unit 20 is stopped, as described above, the rolling element 144 serves as a wedge and the rotation of the driven side rotating body 45 is blocked (that is, the rotation of the worm shaft 34 is locked). The shaft 38 is prevented from being rotated (see FIG. 25A).

Next, advantageous effects of the second embodiment will be described.
(7) In the rolling element 144, first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172 are provided at the axial ends of the roller supports 164a and 164b on the front end side. The first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172 and the holding claws 167 engaged therewith restrict the rotation of the rolling element 144 around the central axis L3. That is, when the first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172 are engaged with the holding claws 167, the rotation of the rolling element 144 around the central axis L <b> 3 of the rolling element 144 is limited by the holding claws 167. The Therefore, the rolling element 144 rotates only around the central axis L3 of the rolling element 144 within a range allowed by the holding claws 167. Therefore, since the scattering of the grease GR due to the rolling element 144 rotating around the central axis L3 of the rolling element 144 is suppressed, the grease GR between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and the rolling element 144 is insufficient. Can be suppressed.

Further, the first and second engagement recesses 171 and 172 provided on the rolling element 144 and the holding claws 167 provided on the support member 43 are simply engaged, so that the center axis L3 of the rolling element 144 is rotated. Can be limited. As a result, the shortage of the grease GR between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and the rolling element 144 can be easily suppressed.

(8) Regulation of the first and second contact surfaces 171b and 172b of the first and second engagement recesses 171 and 172 and the holding claws 167 facing these first and second contact surfaces 171b and 172b When each rolling element 144 rotates about the central axis L3 by the allowable gap G3 provided between the first and second surfaces 167c, the first and second contact surfaces 171b and 172b are held from the rotation direction of each rolling element 144. It abuts on the claw 167. As a result, each rolling element 144 is prevented from further rotation around the central axis L <b> 3 by the holding claws 167 of the support member 43. That is, each rolling element 144 is rotated around each central axis L3 within the rotation range determined by the allowable gap G3 by the engagement of the first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172 and the holding claw 167. Can rotate. Therefore, the posture of each rolling element 144 with respect to the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41 can be changed around the central axis L <b> 3 of each rolling element 144. Since the grease GR around each rolling element 144 is moved in accordance with the rotation of each rolling element 144 around the central axis L3 within the rotation range, each rolling element 144 moves to the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41. The grease GR can be supplied to the contacting portion. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress the shortage of the grease GR between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and each rolling element 144.

(9) By providing the first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172 in the shape of recesses in each rolling element 144, the material constituting each rolling element 144 can be reduced. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the rolling element 144 can be reduced.

(10) The first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172 are recessed at the axial ends of the roller supports 164a and 164b of the respective rolling elements 144. Therefore, the holding claws 167 for suppressing the rolling elements 144 from dropping from the support member 43 in the direction of the rotation axis of the drive-side rotator 42 are provided on the first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172 around the central axis L3. It can be used as a support member side engaging portion that restricts rotation. Therefore, the support member 43 can be prevented from being complicated in shape as compared with the case where the support member 43 is provided with a support member side engaging portion.

(11) Each rolling element 144 has a pair of first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172 that are recessed at both ends in a direction orthogonal to the center axis L3 at each end in the direction of the center axis L3. And the part (namely, recessed part 173) between a pair of 1st and 2nd engaging recessed parts 171 and 172 in each rolling element 144 seeing from the center axis L3 direction becomes planar shape parallel to the central axis L3. It has a two-sided width shape having a pair of first and second contact surfaces 171b and 172b that are parallel to each other. Therefore, it is suppressed that the shape of the 1st and 2nd engagement recessed parts 171 and 172 becomes complicated. Therefore, it can suppress that the shape of each rolling element 144 is complicated by providing the 1st and 2nd engagement recessed parts 171,172. As a result, the rolling element 144 can be easily manufactured.

(12) A pair of first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172 are provided at both ends of the rolling element 144 in the direction of the central axis L3. Therefore, when assembling the rolling element 144 between the paired roller supports 164a and 164b, either end of the rolling element 144 in the direction of the central axis L3 is disposed on the tip side of the roller supports 164a and 164b. Also good. Therefore, even if the first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172 that engage with the holding claws 167 are provided in the rolling element 144, the rolling element 144 can be easily assembled to the support member 43. it can.

(13) In the motor 10, the rotating shaft 24 and the worm shaft 34 are connected via the clutch 40 in which the grease GR between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and each rolling element 144 is suppressed from being insufficient. It is connected. Accordingly, the rotation of the rotary shaft 24 from the worm shaft 34 is further suppressed when the rotary shaft 24 is not rotated.

(14) The support member 43 rotates together with the drive-side rotator 42 around the rotation axis of the drive-side rotator 42 (that is, around the central axis L1). Further, the rolling element 144 rotates around the rotation axis of the driving side rotating body 42 together with the driving side rotating body 42 while being held by the support member 43 when the driving side rotating body 42 is rotationally driven. Therefore, the clutch 40 has a configuration in which the rolling element 144 tries to rotate around the central axis L3 when the drive side rotating body 42 is driven to rotate. That is, when the rolling element freely rotates around the central axis L3, the grease is easily scattered. However, even if the rolling element 144 is the clutch 40 configured to rotate around the central axis L3, the holding claw 167 and the first and second engaging recesses 171 engaged as in the second embodiment are used. By restricting the rotation of the rolling element 144 around the central axis L3 by 172, scattering of the grease GR accompanying the rotation of the rolling element 144 around the central axis L3 can be suppressed. Therefore, in the clutch 40 configured to rotate the rolling element 144 around the central axis L3 when the driving side rotating body 42 is driven to rotate, the grease GR between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and each rolling element 144 is reduced. The shortage can be effectively suppressed.

<Third Embodiment>
Next, a third embodiment of the clutch will be described. Note that in the third embodiment, the same reference numerals as in the second embodiment are given to the same configurations as the second embodiment, and the corresponding configurations are omitted.

The support member 200 and the rolling element 210 of the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 27A and 27B are provided in the clutch 40 of the second embodiment in place of the support member 43 and the rolling element 144. Yes (see FIG. 20).

Engaging protrusions (support member side engaging portions) projecting in the direction of the rotation axis (same as the central axis L1) of the driving side rotating body 42 are provided on the axially facing portions 63 of the respective rolling element holding portions 62 of the support member 200. 201 is provided. The engagement protrusion 201 of the third embodiment protrudes in the direction of the central axis L1 from the radially outer end of the axially facing portion 63 toward the tip of the roller supports 164a and 164b. Moreover, in each rolling element holding | maintenance part 62, the engaging protrusion 201 is located in the center part between roller support 164a, 164b which makes a pair. A radially inner side surface of the engagement protrusion 201 is a regulation surface 201 a having a planar shape perpendicular to the diameter direction of the ring portion 61. The restricting surfaces 201a of the engaging protrusions 201 provided on the two rolling element holding portions 62 are parallel to the direction of the central axis L1 and parallel to each other.

The two rolling elements 210 held by the support member 200 are made of resin and have a substantially cylindrical shape. And each rolling element 210 is arrange | positioned so that the center axis line L4 may become parallel to center axis line L1, L2 by being hold | maintained by the support member 200. FIG.

A pair of first and second engagement recesses 211 and 212 are formed at both ends of each rolling element 210 in the direction of the central axis L4 (see FIG. 28). That is, each rolling element 210 has two pairs of engaging recesses 211 and 212. In the third embodiment, in each rolling element 210, the first engagement recess 211 is positioned on the radially outer side of the support member 200, and the second engagement recess 212 is positioned on the radially inner side of the support member 200. To position.

The first and second engaging recesses 211 and 212 that form a pair at the end of the rolling element 210 in the direction of the central axis L4 are perpendicular to the central axis L4 (the diameter direction of the rolling element 210, and FIG. (B) is recessed on both sides in the vertical direction. And the 1st and 2nd engagement recessed parts 211 and 212 are recessedly provided in the direction orthogonal to the central axis L4 so that the width | variety of the rolling element 210 may be narrowed in the edge part of the central axis L4 direction of the rolling element 210. Yes. In addition, the first and second engaging recesses 211 and 212 are arranged so that the rolling element 210 is arranged at both ends in the direction perpendicular to the central axis L4 at the end of the rolling element 210 in the direction of the central axis L4. In other words, it penetrates in the left-right direction in FIG. Further, each of the first and second engaging recesses 211 and 212 is arranged on the outer side in the diameter direction of the rolling element 210 and on one side in the direction of the central axis L4 (that is, on the side opposite to the central part of the rolling element 210 in the direction of the central axis L4). ) Is open. And the 1st and 2nd engaging recessed parts 211 and 212 which make a pair have a rotationally symmetric relationship which makes the central axis L4 an axis of symmetry. That is, the engaging recesses 211 and 212 have the same shape, although the opening directions are different.

Moreover, the inner peripheral surface of each engaging recessed part 211,212 is comprised from the opposing surface 213a which makes the planar shape orthogonal to the central axis L4 direction, and the contact surface 213b which makes the planar shape parallel to the central axis L4. Yes. And in the 1st and 2nd engaging recessed parts 211 and 212 which make a pair, mutual contact surface 213b has constituted parallel. In each rolling element 210, a portion between the pair of first and second engaging recesses 211 and 212 (that is, a portion between the two contact surfaces 213b, which is more central than the opposing surface 213a). A portion protruding in the direction of the axis L4) is defined as an inter-concave portion 214. In the third embodiment, the inter-concave portion 214 has a two-surface width shape having two contact surfaces 213b that are parallel to each other on both sides in the short direction, and the contact surface when viewed from the direction of the central axis L4. The direction parallel to 213b is the longitudinal direction. In the state shown in FIG. 27B, the rolling element 210 has the support member 200 such that the short direction of the inter-recess portion 214 is along the radial direction of the clutch 40, and the long direction of the inter-recess portion 214 is. It is arrange | positioned along the circumferential direction. Further, in each rolling element 210, the portion between the two inter-recess portions 214 at both ends in the direction of the central axis L4 has a cylindrical shape having an outer diameter equal to the maximum outer diameter of the inter-recess portion 214. Further, both end faces of each rolling element 210 in the direction of the central axis L4 have a planar shape orthogonal to the central axis L4.

The rolling elements 210 arranged between the paired roller supports 164a and 164b are held by the roller supports 164a and 164b from both sides in the rotation direction X1. Further, the abutting and holding surface 167b of the holding claw 167 is in contact with the axial end surfaces of the roller supports 164a and 164b in the rolling element 210 from the direction of the central axis L1. This prevents the rolling element holding part 62 from falling off in the axial direction. In addition, a first engagement located on the radially outer side of the pair of first and second engaging recesses 211 and 212 provided at the axial ends of the roller supports 164a and 164b on the base end side of the rolling element 210. The engagement protrusion 201 is inserted into the combined recess 211. That is, the engagement protrusion 201 is engaged with one first engagement recess 211 provided at the end of the rolling element 210 in the axial direction near the axially facing portion 63. In the first engaging recess 211 and the engaging protrusion 201 that are engaged with each other, the contact surface 213 b and the regulation surface 201 a are opposed to each other in the radial direction of the support member 200.

As shown in FIG. 27B and FIG. 28, the two rolling elements 210 are held at equal angular intervals in the rotational direction X1 (that is, 180 ° intervals in the third embodiment) by being held by the support member 200 having the above-described configuration. ). Further, since the roller supports 164 a and 164 b holding the rolling elements 210 are inserted and arranged inside the clutch housing 41, each rolling element 210 is radially connected to the clutch housing 41 inside the clutch housing 41. Opposite to. The outer peripheral surface of each rolling element 210 is opposed to the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41 in the radial direction. The outer peripheral surface of each rolling element 210 can contact the inner peripheral surface 41c from between a pair of roller supports 164a and 164b. Furthermore, the outer peripheral surface of each rolling element 210 faces the control surface 83 of the driven side rotating body 45 in the radial direction and can contact the control surface 83. The support member 200 can rotate relative to the clutch housing 41 in the rotation direction X1. Note that the support member 200 shown in FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view taken along a cross-section instruction line F10b-F10b in FIG. In FIG. 28, the clutch housing 41 and the driven-side rotator 45 are shown by two-dot chain lines. Further, the outer shape of the center portion of the rolling element 210 in the direction of the central axis L4 (that is, the cylindrical portion between the two concave portions 214) is indicated by a two-dot chain line.

Further, as shown in FIG. 28, the contact surface 213b of the first engagement recess 211 of the rolling element 210 and the regulation surface 201a of the engagement protrusion 201 inserted in the first engagement recess 211. In the middle, an allowable gap G4 that determines the rotation range of the rolling element 210 around the central axis L4 is provided. Therefore, the rolling element 210 can rotate around the central axis L4 by an amount allowed by the allowable gap G4. When viewed in the axial direction from the output unit 30 (the tip end side of the rolling element holding unit 62) (the state shown in FIG. 28), the rolling element 210 is rotated about the central axis L4 between the pair of roller supports 164a and 164b. When rotating in the clockwise direction, the first engaging recess 211 of the rolling element 210 rotates around the central axis L4 in the clockwise direction. When the rolling element 210 is rotated by the amount allowed by the allowable gap G4, the contact surface 213b of the first engagement recess 211 is opposed to the contact surface 213b, as shown by the one-dot chain line. It abuts from one end of the portion 201 in the circumferential direction (the right end in FIG. 28) from the rotational direction. For this reason, the rolling element 210 is prevented from further rotating in the clockwise direction around the central axis L4 by the engaged projection 201 and the first engagement recess 211. On the other hand, when the rolling element 210 rotates counterclockwise around the central axis L4 between the pair of roller supports 164a and 164b as viewed in the axial direction from the output unit 30, the first engagement of the rolling element 210 is performed. The recess 211 rotates counterclockwise around the central axis L4. When the rolling element 210 is rotated by the amount allowed by the allowable gap G4, as shown by the broken line, the contact surface 213b of the first engagement recess 211 faces the contact surface 213b. It abuts on the other end portion 201 in the circumferential direction (the left end portion in FIG. 28) from the rotational direction. For this reason, the rolling element 210 is further prevented from rotating counterclockwise around the central axis L4 by the engaged engaging protrusion 201 and the first engaging recess 211. In this way, each rolling element 210 is restricted from rotating about the central axis L4 by the engaged engaging protrusion 201 and the first engaging recess 211. Further, the rotation of the rolling element 210 around the central axis L4 is limited to a range permitted by the allowable gap G4 between the regulation surface 201a and the contact surface 213b facing each other. On the surface, a slidable contact range A3 that is slidable with the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 is determined.

Next, the operation of the third embodiment will be described.
When the drive-side rotator 42 is rotationally driven, the rolling element 210 is unlocked so that it is not sandwiched between the control surface 83 and the clutch housing 41, as in the second embodiment. In the unlocked state, the drive-side rotator 42 and the driven-side rotator 45 are coupled in the rotational direction X1 so as to be integrally rotatable, whereby the rotational driving force of the drive-side rotator 42 (rotary shaft 24) The rotation shaft 24 and the worm shaft 34 are integrally rotated by being transmitted to the driven side rotating body 45 (worm shaft 34).

At this time, as shown in FIG. 28, in the support member 200 and each rolling element 210, one of the first and second roller supports 164a and 164b and each axially facing portion 63 rotate to each rolling element release portion 57. By being pushed in the direction X1, it rotates about the rotation axis (same as the central axis L1) of the driving side rotating body 42 together with the driving side rotating body 42 and the driven side rotating body 45. Each rolling element 210 has its center axis L4 in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the support member 200 between the pair of roller supports 164a and 164b due to the frictional force between the rolling element 210 and the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41. Try to rotate around. When each rolling element 210 rotates around its central axis L4 by an amount allowed by the allowable gap G4 between the regulation surface 201a and the contact surface 213b facing each other, each rolling element 210 rotates around the central axis L4. The contact surface 213b of the first engagement recess 211 contacts the engagement protrusion 201 engaged with the engagement recess 211 from the rotation direction. Thereby, each rolling element 210 is restricted from rotating about the central axis L4 by the engaged first engaging recess 211 and the engaging protrusion 201. Therefore, even when each rolling element 210 rotates around the rotation axis of the driving side rotating body 42 together with the driving side rotating body 42 when the driving side rotating body 42 is rotated, the center axis L4 of each rolling element 210 is rotated. The rotating member rotates only within a range allowed by the engaged engaging protrusion 201 and the first engaging recess 211.

Further, when the driven-side rotator 45 attempts to rotate during the non-rotation driving of the drive-side rotator 42, each rolling element 210 is connected to the control surface 83 and the clutch housing 41 in the same manner as in the second embodiment. By being sandwiched between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the first and second inner peripheral surfaces 41c, the rolling elements 210 become wedges and the rotation of the driven-side rotator 45 is prevented.

According to the third embodiment, in addition to the same effects as (8), (9), (11) to (14) of the second embodiment, the following advantageous effects can be obtained.
(15) In the rolling element 210, the first engagement recess 211 provided at the end in the axial direction on the base end side of the roller supports 164a and 164b is an engagement protrusion engaged with the first engagement recess 211. 201 restricts rotation around the central axis L4. That is, when the first engaging recess 211 and the engaging protrusion 201 are engaged, the rolling element 210 is restricted from rotating around the central axis L4 of the rolling element 210 by the engaging protrusion 201. . Therefore, the rolling element 210 rotates only around the central axis L4 of the rolling element 210 within a range allowed by the engagement protrusion 201. Accordingly, the grease GR is prevented from being scattered due to the rolling element 210 rotating around the central axis L4 of the rolling element 210, so that the grease GR between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and the rolling element 210 is insufficient. Can be suppressed.

Further, the simple rotation of the first engaging recess 211 provided in the rolling element 210 and the engaging protrusion 201 provided in the support member 200 allows the rotation of the rolling element 210 about the central axis L4. Can be limited. As a result, the shortage of the grease GR between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and the rolling element 210 can be easily suppressed.

(16) At the start of rotational driving of the driving side rotating body 42, the rotational driving force of the driving side rotating body 42 is transmitted from the axial facing portion 63 to the support member 200. Then, the rotational driving force of the driving side rotating body 42 is transmitted to the rolling element 210 via the axial facing portion 63 and the roller supports 164a and 164b. Further, since the engagement protrusion 201 is provided in the axially facing portion 63, the first engagement recess 211 of the rolling element 210 and the engagement protrusion 201 of the support member 200 are connected to the drive side rotating body 42. Are engaged in the vicinity of the axially facing portion 63 to which the rotational driving force is directly transmitted. Therefore, the rotational driving force of the driving side rotating body 42 is easily transmitted to the rolling element 210 via the support member 200. Accordingly, it becomes easy to release the rolling element 210 between the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41 and the driven side rotating body 45 at the start of the rotational driving of the driving side rotating body 42.

<Fourth embodiment>
Next, a fourth embodiment of the clutch will be described. Note that in the fourth embodiment, the same reference numerals as in the second embodiment are given to the same configurations as the second embodiment and the corresponding configurations, and description thereof will be omitted.

The support member 220 and the rolling element 230 of the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 29A and 29B are provided in the clutch 40 of the second embodiment in place of the support member 43 and the rolling element 144. Yes (see FIG. 20).

In the support member 220, the tip of the axial facing portion 63 of each rolling element holding portion 62 (that is, the axial end opposite to the ring portion 61 in the axial facing portion 63 and the lower end in FIG. 29A). Part) is provided with an engaging protrusion (support member side engaging part) 221. The engaging protrusion 221 is provided integrally with the axially facing portion 63, and in the rotational axis direction of the drive side rotating body 42 (same as the direction of the central axis L1), the tip side of the roller supports 164a, 164b (FIG. 29 ( It is a convex part protruding downward) in b). Further, the engagement protrusion 221 of the fourth embodiment is formed such that the protrusion amount of the roller supports 164a and 164b toward the tip end side gradually increases toward the inner side in the radial direction of the ring portion 61. The distal end surface 221a of the engaging protrusion 221 has a planar shape that is inclined with respect to a virtual plane S1 orthogonal to the central axis L1. In the fourth embodiment, the distal end surface 221a is located at a position where the end portion radially inward of the distal end surface 221a is separated from the ring portion 61 in the direction of the central axis L1 with respect to the radially outer end portion of the ring portion 61. Inclined to be located.

The two rolling elements 230 held by the support member 220 are made of resin and have a substantially cylindrical shape. And each rolling element 230 is arrange | positioned so that the center axis line L5 may become parallel to center axis line L1, L2 (rotation axis line of the drive side rotating body 42) by being hold | maintained by the support member 220. FIG.

An engaging recess (rolling element side engaging portion) 231 is provided at one end portion of each rolling element 230 in the direction of the central axis L5 (the upper end portion in FIG. 29B). In each rolling element 230, the engaging recess 231 is a recess provided in the direction of the central axis L5, and from one end of the rolling element 230 to the other end (that is, the diameter of the rolling element 230) along the direction orthogonal to the central axis L5. The depth in the direction of the central axis L5 becomes deeper from one end of the direction to the other end. And the engagement recessed part 231 has the planar inclined bottom face 231a inclined with respect to the virtual plane S2 orthogonal to the central axis L5. In the fourth embodiment, the virtual plane S1 and the virtual plane S2 are parallel to each other, the inclination angle of the inclined bottom surface 231a with respect to the virtual plane S2, and the inclination of the distal end surface 221a of the engagement protrusion 221 with respect to the virtual plane S1. The angle is equal. The other end surface of each rolling element 230 in the direction of the central axis L5 (that is, the end surface on the front end side of the roller supports 164a and 164b) has a planar shape perpendicular to the central axis L5. Furthermore, the outer peripheral surface of each rolling element 230 has a cylindrical shape.

Further, the maximum length H1 in the direction of the central axis L5 of each rolling element 230 is greater than the axial distance D7 between the base end of the engagement protrusion 221 and the contact holding surface 167b in each rolling element holding part 62. short. Further, the minimum length H2 in the direction of the central axis L5 of each rolling element 230 is shorter than the axial distance D8 between the tip of the engagement protrusion 221 and the contact holding surface 167b in each rolling element holding part 62. . Further, the maximum length H1 of each rolling element 230 is longer than the distance D8 in each rolling element holding part 62.

And each rolling element 230 is arrange | positioned between roller support 164a, 164b which makes a pair so that the edge part near the engagement recessed part 231 may be located in the base end side of roller support 164a, 164b, and it is the rotation direction X1. It is held by roller supports 164a and 164b from both sides. In FIGS. 29A and 29B, the rotation direction X1 is not shown, but the rotation direction X1 is a direction around the rotation axis L1 and the circumferential direction of the ring portion 61. It is the same direction. Furthermore, the contact holding surface 167b of the holding claw 167 is in contact with the axial end surface of the roller support 164a, 164b in the rolling element 230 from the direction of the central axis L1. The rolling element 230 is prevented from falling off from the rolling element holder 62 in the axial direction by the holding claws 167. The rolling elements 230 are arranged such that the depth in the direction of the central axis L <b> 5 of the engaging recess 231 increases along the radial direction of the ring portion 61 along the radial direction of the ring portion 61. Then, an engaging protrusion 221 that is opposed to the rolling element 230 in the direction of the central axis L1 is inserted into the engaging recess 231 of the rolling element 230. That is, the engagement recess 231 and the engagement protrusion 221 are engaged. Further, in the engaging recess 231 and the engaging protrusion 221 that are engaged with each other, the front end surface 221a and the inclined bottom surface 231a of the engaging protrusion 221 are in the rotation axis direction of the drive side rotating body 42 (in the direction of the central axis L1). Opposite to.

By being held by the support member 220 configured as described above, the two rolling elements 230 are arranged at equiangular intervals (180 ° intervals in the fourth embodiment) in the rotation direction X1. Further, each roller support 164a, 164b holding the rolling element 230 is inserted and arranged inside the clutch housing 41. Therefore, each rolling element 230 is arranged radially with the clutch housing 41 inside the clutch housing 41. Opposite to. And the outer peripheral surface of each rolling element 230 faces the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 in the radial direction, and can contact the inner peripheral surface 41c between the pair of roller supports 164a and 164b. . Furthermore, the outer peripheral surface of each rolling element 230 faces the control surface 83 of the driven side rotating body 45 in the radial direction and can contact the control surface 83. Further, the support member 220 is rotatable relative to the clutch housing 41 in the rotation direction X1. In FIG. 29B, the clutch housing 41 is shown by a two-dot chain line.

Further, as described above, the maximum length H1 of each rolling element 230 is shorter than the distance D7 between the base end of the engaging protrusion 221 and the contact holding surface 167b in each rolling element holding part 62, The minimum length H2 of the rolling element 230 is shorter than the distance D8 between the tip of the engagement protrusion 221 and the contact holding surface 167b in each rolling element holding part 62. Furthermore, the maximum length H1 of each rolling element 230 is longer than the distance D8 in each rolling element holding part 62. Therefore, between the inclined bottom surface 231a of the engagement recess 231 of the rolling element 230 held by the rolling element holding part 62 and the tip surface 221a of the engagement protrusion 221 inserted into the engagement recess 231, An allowable gap G5 that determines the rotation range of the rolling element 230 around the central axis L5 is provided. Accordingly, the rolling element 230 can rotate around the central axis L5 by an amount allowed by the allowable gap G5. Even if the rolling element 230 rotates between the pair of roller supports 164a and 164b around the central axis L5 in either the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction, the engaging recess 231 of the rolling element 230 has the central axis line. Rotate around L5. Then, when the rolling element 230 rotates by the amount allowed by the allowable gap G5, the inclined bottom surface 231a of the engagement recess 231 contacts the tip surface 221a of the engagement protrusion 221 from the rotation direction. For this reason, the rolling element 230 is prevented from rotating around the central axis L5 by a certain amount or more by the engaged recess 231 and the engaging protrusion 221 engaged. Further, the rotation of the rolling element 230 around the central axis L5 is limited to a range that is allowed in the allowable gap G5 between the inclined bottom surface 231a of the engaging recess 231 and the tip surface 221a of the engaging protrusion 221. Thus, a slidable contact range (not shown) that can be slidably contacted with the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41 is determined on the outer peripheral surface of the rolling element 230.

Next, the operation of the fourth embodiment will be described.
When the drive-side rotator 42 is driven to rotate, the rolling element 230 is brought into an unlocked state in which it is not sandwiched between the control surface 83 and the clutch housing 41 in the same manner as in the second embodiment. In the unlocked state, the drive-side rotator 42 and the driven-side rotator 45 are coupled in the rotational direction X1 so as to be integrally rotatable, whereby the rotational driving force of the drive-side rotator 42 (rotary shaft 24) The rotation shaft 24 and the worm shaft 34 are integrally rotated by being transmitted to the driven side rotating body 45 (worm shaft 34).

At this time, the support member 220 and each rolling element 230 are configured such that any one of the first and second roller supports 164a and 164b and each axially facing portion 63 are pushed by the respective rolling element release portions 57 in the rotation direction X1. Rotate around the rotation axis (same as the central axis L1) of the driving side rotating body 42 together with the driving side rotating body 42 and the driven side rotating body 45. Each rolling element 230 has its center axis L5 in a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the support member 220 between the pair of roller supports 164a and 164b due to the frictional force with the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41. Try to rotate around. When each rolling element 230 rotates around its central axis L5 by the amount allowed by the allowable gap G5 between the inclined bottom surface 231a and the front end surface 221a facing each other, each rolling element 230 rotates around the central axis L5. The inclined bottom surface 231a of the engagement recess 231 abuts from the rotation direction on the tip surface 221a of the engagement protrusion 221 engaged with the engagement recess 231. Thereby, each rolling element 230 is restricted from rotating around the central axis L5 by the engaged recess 231 and the engaging protrusion 221 engaged. Therefore, even when each rolling element 230 rotates around the rotation axis of the driving side rotating body 42 together with the driving side rotating body 42 when the driving side rotating body 42 is driven to rotate, the center axis L5 of each rolling element 230 is obtained. In the periphery, it rotates only within the range allowed by the engaged recess 231 and the engaging protrusion 221 engaged.

Further, when the driven-side rotator 45 attempts to rotate during the non-rotation drive of the drive-side rotator 42, each rolling element 230 is connected to the control surface 83 and the clutch housing 41 in the same manner as in the second embodiment. Each rolling element 230 becomes a wedge by being sandwiched between the inner peripheral surface 41c and the rotation of the driven side rotating body 45 is prevented.

According to the fourth embodiment, in addition to the same effects as (8), (9), (13), (14) of the second embodiment and (16) of the third embodiment, the following advantages are obtained. Can produce various effects.

(17) The engagement concave portion 231 provided at the end portion in the axial direction on the base end side of the roller supports 164a and 164b in the rolling element 230 is centered on the central axis L5 by the engagement protrusion 221 engaged with the engagement concave portion 231. Rotation around is limited. That is, when the engaging recess 231 and the engaging protrusion 221 are engaged, the rolling element 230 is restricted from rotating around the central axis L5 of the rolling element 230 by the engaging protrusion 221. For this reason, the rolling element 230 rotates only around the central axis L5 of the rolling element 230 within the range allowed by the engagement protrusion 221. Therefore, since the scattering of the grease GR due to the rolling element 230 rotating around the central axis L5 of the rolling element 230 is suppressed, the grease GR between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and the rolling element 230 is insufficient. Can be suppressed.

Further, the rotation of the rolling element 230 around the central axis L5 is limited by a simple configuration in which the engagement recess 231 provided in the rolling element 230 is engaged with the engagement protrusion 221 provided in the support member 220. Can do. As a result, the shortage of the grease GR between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and the rolling element 230 can be easily suppressed.

(18) The inclined bottom surface 231a of the engagement recess 231 is inclined with respect to the virtual plane S2, and the tip end surface 221a of the engagement protrusion 221 that engages with the engagement recess 231 is inclined with respect to the virtual plane S1. is doing. The inclined bottom surface 231a and the tip surface 221a face each other in the direction of the central axis L1. Therefore, when the rolling element 230 rotates about the central axis L5, the inclined bottom surface 231a contacts the tip surface 221a of the engagement protrusion 221. As a result, the engagement protrusion 221 prevents further rotation of the rolling element 230 around the central axis L5. In this way, the rotation of the rolling element 230 around the central axis L5 can be limited by the engagement recess 231 and the engagement protrusion 221 having a simple configuration. Therefore, it is possible to easily suppress a shortage of the grease GR between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and the rolling element 230.

In addition, you may change each said embodiment as follows.
-The rolling element 144 of the said 2nd Embodiment may have a grease accommodation recessed part which opens to the sliding contact range A2 in the outer peripheral surface of the rolling element 144, and accommodates grease GR. The grease-accommodating recess is formed so that the outer peripheral surface of the rolling element 144 remains in the sliding contact range A2, and is not formed over the entire sliding contact range A2.

For example, the rolling element 144 shown in FIGS. 30A and 30B has a grease accommodating recess 175 at one end in the axial direction of the rolling element 144 (that is, the end on the base end side of the roller supports 164a and 164b). Have. The grease accommodating recess 175 is open to one side in the axial direction of the rolling element 144 and radially outward of the rolling element 144 (that is, toward the clutch housing 41). In addition, in FIG.30 (b), the dot is attached | subjected to the sliding contact range A2.

Further, for example, the rolling element 144 shown in FIGS. 31A and 31B has a grease accommodating recess 176 at the other end in the axial direction of the rolling element 144 (that is, the end on the tip side of the roller supports 164a and 164b). Have The grease accommodating recess 176 is opened to the other side in the axial direction of the rolling element 144 and radially outward of the rolling element 144 (that is, toward the clutch housing 41).

And as shown to Fig.32 (a) and FIG.32 (b), the rolling element 144 may have the grease accommodating recessed parts 175 and 176 in the both ends of an axial direction.
Further, for example, the rolling element 144 shown in FIGS. 33A and 33B has a grease accommodating recess 177 in the central portion in the axial direction. The grease accommodating recess 177 is recessed in the diameter direction of the rolling element 144 from a portion corresponding to the sliding contact range A2 on the outer peripheral surface of the rolling element 144.

As shown in FIGS. 34 (a) and 34 (b), the rolling element 144 has grease accommodating recesses 175 and 176 at both ends in the axial direction, and further has a grease accommodating recess at the center in the axial direction. 177 may be included.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 30 to 34, the grease receiving recesses 175, 176, and 177 have a rectangular shape when viewed from the outside in the radial direction. There may be. Moreover, the rolling element 144 may be provided with four or more grease accommodation recessed parts opened to the sliding contact range A2.

In this way, the grease receiving recesses 175, 176, and 177 provided in the rolling element 144 are opened in a sliding contact range A2 that can slide on the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41. Therefore, the grease GR accommodated in the grease accommodating recesses 175, 176, and 177 is pulled out toward the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 along with the rotation of the rolling element 144, and the inner periphery of the rolling element 144 and the clutch housing 41 It is supplied between the surface 41c (that is, between the sliding contact range A2 and the inner peripheral surface 41c). Accordingly, it is possible to further suppress the shortage of the grease GR between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and the rolling element 144. As a result, when the rotational drive of the drive side rotator 42 is stopped, the rolling element 144 is less likely to become a wedge between the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41 and the control surface 83 of the driven side rotator 45. Can be further suppressed.

Similarly, the rolling element 210 according to the third embodiment and the rolling element 230 according to the fourth embodiment are provided with a grease accommodating recess that opens in a sliding contact range on the outer peripheral surface of the rolling elements 210 and 230 and accommodates the grease GR. Thus, the same effect can be obtained.

In the rolling element 144 of the second embodiment, the rotation around the central axis L3 of the rolling element 144 is limited by the first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172 and the holding claws 167 engaged with each other. It is. Therefore, in the outer peripheral surface of the rolling element 144, a portion that can contact the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and a portion that can contact the control surface 83 of the driven-side rotating body 45 can be separated. Therefore, the curvature of the part that can contact the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41 and the part that can contact the control surface 83 of the driven-side rotating body 45 on the outer peripheral surface of the rolling element 144 can be made different.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 35, the rolling element 144 has a pair of parallel surfaces 178a perpendicular to the direction of the central axis L3 and parallel to each other on both sides of the rotation direction X1 of the rolling element 144. In the outer peripheral surface of the rolling element 144, a portion located closer to the clutch housing 41 than the pair of parallel surfaces 178a becomes a first arc surface 178b that can contact the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41, and a pair of parallel surfaces. A portion located closer to the driven-side rotator 45 than the surface 178a is a second arcuate surface 178c that can contact the control surface 83 of the driven-side rotator 45. Furthermore, when viewed from the direction of the central axis L3, the second arc surface 178c that contacts the control surface 83 of the driven-side rotating body 45 has a curvature that is greater than the first arc surface 178b that contacts the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41. It has a small arc shape.

In this case, the inner periphery of the clutch housing 41 is compared to the case where the entire outer peripheral surface of the rolling element 144 has the curvature of the first arcuate surface 178b (that is, a cylindrical shape) as in the second embodiment. It is possible to reduce the wedge angle θ1 when the surface 41c and the control surface 83 of the driven side rotating body 45 sandwich the rolling element 144 as a wedge. Then, when the rotational driving of the driving side rotating body 42 is stopped, the angle at which the driven side rotating body 45 rotates until the rolling element 144 is sandwiched between the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41 and the control surface 83. Is smaller than that when the entire outer peripheral surface of the rolling element 144 has the curvature of the first arcuate surface 178b. Therefore, when the driven-side rotator 45 tries to rotate when the drive-side rotator 42 is not rotated, the driven-side rotator 45 rotates as compared with the case where the entire outer peripheral surface of the rolling element 144 has the curvature of the first arc surface 178b. When the rotational speed of the body 45 is smaller, the rolling body 144 can be held between the driven side rotating body 45 and the clutch housing 41. Therefore, when trying to rotate from the driven-side rotator 45, the rolling element 144 can be held between the driven-side rotator 45 and the clutch housing 41 at an earlier stage. When stopped, the rotation of the driven-side rotator 45 can be quickly prevented.

Similarly, with respect to the rolling element 210 of the third embodiment and the rolling element 230 of the fourth embodiment, on the outer peripheral surface of the rolling elements 210 and 230, a portion that can contact the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41, and the driven body The curvature of the portion that can contact the control surface 83 of the side rotating body 45 may be varied.

As shown in FIGS. 36 (a) and 36 (b), the support member 43 may have a contact portion 169. The abutting portion 169 is moved radially outward when the roller supports 164a and 164b are pressed by the rolling element 144 that is about to rotate about the central axis L3 when the driving side rotating body 42 is not rotated. It contacts the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the housing 41. In the example shown in FIGS. 36A and 36B, the support member 43 is provided with the contact portion 169 in the clutch 40 of the second embodiment.

More specifically, in the support member 43, on both sides in the circumferential direction (rotation direction X1) of the rolling element holding portion 62, from the radially outer side surface of the coupling portion 166, radially outward (that is, toward the clutch housing 41). A protruding contact portion 169 is provided. When the rolling element 144 is not sandwiched between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and the control surface 83 of the driven side rotating body 45 (for example, in the state shown in FIG. 36A), the contact portion 169 The clutch housing 41 is positioned away from the inner peripheral surface 41c. Then, as shown in FIG. 36 (b), when the driven side rotating body 45 tries to rotate when the driving side rotating body 42 is not rotated, the rolling body 144 is sandwiched between the driven side rotating body 45 and the clutch housing 41. In the meantime, the rolling element 144 is rotated around its central axis L3 by the frictional force with the driven side rotating body 45. FIG. 36B illustrates a state in which the driven side rotating body 45 is about to rotate in the second direction R2. Here, the rolling element 144 has a length between the first contact surface 171b and the second contact surface 172b (that is, the length D4 in the longitudinal direction of the inter-recessed portion 173). 2 is formed to be longer than the distance D5 between the restriction surfaces 167c of the holding claws 167 facing the contact surfaces 171b and 172b (see FIG. 36A). Therefore, after the rolling element 144 rotates around the central axis L3, the first and second contact surfaces 171b and 172b come into contact with the opposing regulating surfaces 167c from the rotation direction around the central axis L3, respectively. These restricting surfaces 167c can be pressed in directions away from each other. In other words, the rolling element 144 can rotate around the central axis L3 to press the two holding claws 167 positioned on both sides of the inter-recess portion 173 in the direction away from each other by the inter-recess portion 173. Then, the roller supports 164a and 164b that make a pair move away from each other, and as a result, the roller supports 164a and 164b move radially outward. That is, the roller supports 164a and 164b are moved radially outward by being pressed by the rolling element 144 rotated around the central axis L3. Then, the support member 43 is elastically deformed, and the connecting portion 166 provided integrally with the roller supports 164a and 164b is moved outward in the radial direction. As a result, the contact portion 169 is moved outward in the radial direction, and the clutch housing. 41 abuts against the inner peripheral surface 41c of 41. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the rolling element 144 from moving in the rotational direction X1 of the drive side rotating body 42 even by the frictional force generated between the contact portion 169 and the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41. Accordingly, since the rolling element 144 is more easily sandwiched between the driven side rotating body 45 and the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41, the rotation of the driven side rotating body 45 can be further increased when the driving side rotating body 42 is not rotated. It becomes easy to stop. Further, even when the load applied to the output shaft 38 becomes larger, in addition to the frictional force between the rolling element 144 and the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41, the contact portion 169 and the inner periphery of the clutch housing 41 are also provided. Since the frictional force with the surface 41 c acts so as to prevent the driven side rotating body 45 from rotating, it is easy to prevent the driven side rotating body 45 from rotating.

In the example shown in FIGS. 36A and 36B, the support member 43 engages with the rolling member 144 to limit the rotation of the rolling member 144 around the central axis L3 in the support member 43. A holding claw 167 that is an engaging portion is provided at the tip of the roller supports 164a and 164b. Therefore, compared with the case where the support member side engaging portion is provided at the base end portion of the roller supports 164a and 164b or the axially facing portion 63, the support side rotating body rotates around the central axis L3 when the driving side rotating body 42 is not rotated. The roller supports 164a and 164b can be easily moved radially outward by the rolling element 144. Therefore, the contact portion 169 is easily brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41.

At the start of the rotational drive of the drive-side rotator 42, the support member 43 returns to its original shape when the holding of the rolling element 144 by the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and the driven-side rotator 45 is released. The contact portion 169 is separated from the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41.

In the example shown in FIGS. 36A and 36B, the contact portion 169 has a shape protruding radially outward from the coupling portion 166 of the support member 43, but the shape of the contact portion 169 is as follows. Not limited to this. The contact portion moves outward in the radial direction when the roller supports 164a and 164b are moved outward in the radial direction by the rolling element 144 that attempts to rotate around the central axis L3 when the drive side rotating body 42 is not rotated. As long as it is in contact with the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41. For example, the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion 166 and the radially outer side surfaces of the roller supports 164a and 164b may be configured as contact portions.

Further, a similar contact portion may be provided on the support member 200 of the third embodiment and the support member 220 of the fourth embodiment. In this case, the rolling elements 210 and 230 press the roller supports 164a and 164b in a direction away from each other directly or indirectly by rotating around the central axes L4 and L5 when the driving side rotating body 42 is not rotated. It is formed into a shape that can be used. For example, in the rolling elements 210 and 230, the direction along the rotation direction X1 is the short direction and the direction along the direction orthogonal to the rotation direction X1 is the longitudinal direction when viewed from the rotation axis direction of the drive side rotation body 42. It is formed in a shape (for example, dihedral width shape, elliptical shape, etc.).

In the fourth embodiment, each of the engagement protrusions 221 of the support member 220 extends toward the tip side of the roller supports 164a and 164b as it goes inward in the radial direction of the ring portion 61 along the radial direction of the ring portion 61. The protrusion is formed so as to gradually increase. And the front end surface 221a of each engagement protrusion 221 is spaced apart from the ring portion 61 in the direction of the central axis L1 at the radially inner end of the front end surface 221a than the radially outer end of the ring portion 61. It is inclined to be located at the position. However, the shape of each engagement protrusion 221 is not limited to this. Each engagement protrusion 221 is a protrusion protruding inward of the engagement recess 231 of the rolling element 230 in the rotation axis direction of the drive-side rotator 42, and its tip surface 221a is inclined with respect to the virtual plane S1. If you do. For example, the engagement protrusion 221 is located at a position where the end on the radially outer side of the end surface 221a of the front end surface 221a is separated from the ring 61 in the central axis L1 direction. It may be formed as follows. In this case, the rolling elements 230 are arranged so that the depth in the direction of the central axis L <b> 5 of the engagement recess 231 becomes deeper along the diameter direction of the ring portion 61 toward the radially outer side of the ring portion 61.

In the fourth embodiment, the inclination angle of the inclined bottom surface 231a with respect to the virtual plane S2 is equal to the inclination angle of the tip surface 221a with respect to the virtual plane S1, but it is not necessarily required to be equal. It is only necessary that the inclined bottom surface 231a can come into contact with the engaging protrusion 221 from the rotation direction around the central axis L5 of the rolling element 230 when the rolling element 230 rotates around the central axis L5.

In the fourth embodiment, the engagement recess 231 is provided at the end on the base end side of the roller supports 164a and 164b among the both ends of the rolling element 230 in the direction of the central axis L5. However, the engagement concave portion 231 may be provided at the end portion on the tip end side of the roller supports 164a and 164b among the both end portions in the direction of the central axis L5 of the rolling element 230. In this case, an engagement protrusion that protrudes inside the engagement recess 231 in the direction of the rotation axis of the drive-side rotator 42 is provided on the tip side of the roller supports 164a and 164b. The front end surface of the engaging protrusion is inclined with respect to a virtual plane S1 orthogonal to the rotation axis of the drive side rotator 42 and faces the inclined bottom surface 231a in the rotation axis direction of the drive side rotator 42. Even if it does in this way, the effect similar to (17) and (18) of the said 4th Embodiment can be acquired.

In the second embodiment, at the end of the rolling element 144 in the direction of the central axis L3, the pair of first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172 provided at the end are the first engaging recesses. A recess-to-recess portion 173 that is a portion between 171 and the second engagement recess 172 is formed to have a two-sided width shape. However, the shape of the engaging recess provided in the rolling element 144 to limit the rotation of the rolling element 144 around the central axis L3 is not limited thereto.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 37, the rolling element 144 is provided with first and second engaging recesses 241 and 242 that are rectangular in the axial direction and open on both sides in the rotational direction X1. The first and second engagement recesses 241 and 242 each function as a rolling element side engagement portion. The first roller support 164a protrudes inside the first engagement recess 241 and engages with the first engagement recess 241 to limit the rotation of the first engagement recess 241 around the central axis L3. A first engagement protrusion 251 is provided. Further, the second roller support 164b protrudes inside the second engagement recess 242 and engages with the second engagement recess 242 to limit the rotation of the second engagement recess 242 around the central axis L3. A second engaging protrusion 252 is provided. The first and second engagement protrusions 251 and 252 each function as a support member side engagement portion. Further, the inner peripheral surface of the first engaging recess 241 facing each other and the outer peripheral surface of the first engaging protrusion 251, and the inner peripheral surface of the second engaging recess 242 facing each other and the first Between the two outer peripheral projections 252 is provided an allowable gap G6 that determines the rotation range of the rolling element 144 around the central axis L3.

Then, when the driving side rotating body 42 rotates in the first direction R1, the rolling element 144 rotates in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the driving side rotating body 42 (as shown in FIG. It tries to rotate around the central axis L3 in the clockwise direction. When the rolling element 144 rotates around the central axis L3 by the amount allowed by the allowable gap G6, the inner peripheral surfaces of the first and second engaging recesses 241 and 242 that rotate around the central axis L3 in the rolling element 144 The first and second engagement protrusions 251 and 252 engaged with the first and second engagement recesses 241 and 242 are brought into contact with each other from the rotational direction. Further, when the driving side rotating body 42 rotates in the second direction R2, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 37, the rolling element 144 is in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the driving side rotating body 42 (in FIG. 37). It tries to rotate around the central axis L3 in the clockwise direction. When the rolling element 144 rotates around the central axis L3 by the amount allowed by the allowable gap G6, the inner peripheral surfaces of the first and second engaging recesses 241 and 242 that rotate around the central axis L3 in the rolling element 144 The first and second engagement protrusions 251 and 252 engaged with the first and second engagement recesses 241 and 242 are brought into contact with each other from the rotational direction. Therefore, regardless of which direction the rolling element 144 is to rotate about the central axis L3, the engaged first and second engaging recesses 241, 242 and the first and second engaging protrusions The rotation of the rolling element 144 around the central axis L3 is restricted by the portions 251 and 252. Even if it does in this way, since scattering of the grease by the rolling element 144 rotating around the central axis L3 is suppressed, the grease between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and the rolling element 144 is insufficient. Can be suppressed.

-In the said 2nd Embodiment, the support member 43 is the support member side engaging part engaged with the 1st and 2nd engaging recessed parts 171 and 172 of the rolling element 144 only in the front end side of roller support 164a, 164b. As a holding claw 167. However, the support member 43 includes a support member side engagement portion that engages with the first and second engagement recesses 171 and 172 of the rolling element 144 on the base end side of the roller supports 164a and 164b. There may be.

In the third embodiment, the support member 200 has an engagement protrusion 201 as a support member side engagement portion that engages with the first engagement recess 211 of the rolling element 210 only in the axially facing portion 63. Have However, the support member 200 includes an engagement protrusion as a support member side engagement portion that engages with the first engagement recess 211 of the rolling element 210 on the tip side of the roller supports 164a and 164b. There may be. Further, the support member 200 includes an engagement protrusion as a support member side engagement portion that engages with the second engagement recess 212 and restricts the rotation of the second engagement recess 212 around the central axis L4. It may be a configuration.

In the second embodiment, in order to limit the rotation of the rolling element 144 around the central axis L3, the holding claws 167 of the support member 43 are provided in the first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172 of the rolling element 144. Each is inserted and engaged. However, in order to limit the rotation of the rolling element 144 around the central axis L3, the support member 43 and the rolling element 144 are engaged with each other (that is, the part corresponding to the support member side engaging part and the rolling element side engaging part). ) Is not limited to this.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 38, the rolling element 144 includes first and second engaging protrusions 261 and 262 protruding on both sides in the diameter direction (both sides in the rotation direction X1 in FIG. 38). The first and second engaging protrusions 261 and 262 each function as a rolling element side engaging portion. The support member 43 has a first engagement recess 271 that is recessed in the rotation direction X1 and engaged with the first engagement protrusion 261 in the first roller support 164a, and the second roller support 164b. And a second engaging recess 272 that is recessed in the rotational direction X1 and engages with the second engaging protrusion 262. The first and second engaging recesses 271 and 272 function as support member side engaging portions, respectively. Further, the outer peripheral surface of the first engaging protrusion 261 and the inner peripheral surface of the first engaging recess 271 facing each other, and the outer peripheral surface of the second engaging protrusion 262 facing each other and the first Between the inner peripheral surfaces of the two engaging recesses 272, an allowable gap G7 that determines the rotation range of the rolling element 144 around the central axis L3 is provided.

When the driving side rotating body 42 rotates in the first direction R1, the rolling element 144 rotates in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the driving side rotating body 42 (as shown in FIG. It tries to rotate around the central axis L3 in the clockwise direction. When the rolling element 144 rotates about the central axis L3 by an amount permitted by the allowable gap G6, the first and second engaging protrusions 261 and 262 that rotate about the central axis L3 in the rolling element 144 are the first and second engaging protrusions 261 and 262. The first and second engagement recesses 271 and 272 engaged with the second engagement protrusions 261 and 262 are in contact with the inner peripheral surfaces from the rotation direction. Further, when the driving side rotating body 42 rotates in the second direction R2, as shown by a broken line in FIG. 38, the rolling element 144 is opposite to the rotating direction of the driving side rotating body 42 (clockwise in FIG. 38). ) To rotate around the central axis L3. When the rolling element 144 rotates about the central axis L3 by an amount permitted by the allowable gap G6, the first and second engaging protrusions 261 and 262 that rotate about the central axis L3 in the rolling element 144 are the first and second engaging protrusions 261 and 262. The first and second engagement recesses 271 and 272 engaged with the second engagement protrusions 261 and 262 are in contact with the inner peripheral surfaces from the rotation direction. Therefore, the first and second engagement protrusions 261 and 262 engaged with the first and second engagement protrusions 261 and 262 are engaged regardless of the direction in which the rolling element 144 rotates about the central axis L3. The recesses 271 and 272 restrict the rotation of the rolling element 144 around the central axis L3. Even if it does in this way, since scattering of the grease by the rolling element 144 rotating around the central axis L3 is suppressed, the grease between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and the rolling element 144 is insufficient. Can be suppressed.

In the third embodiment as well, in order to limit the rotation of the rolling element 210 around the central axis L4, the support member 200 and the rolling element 210 are engaged with each other (that is, the support member side engaging portion and the rolling element). The shape of the portion corresponding to the side engaging portion) may be changed. The same applies to the fourth embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the first and second engagement recesses 171 and 172 are provided at the end of the rolling element 144 in the direction of the central axis L3. Engagement of the holding claws 167 provided at the tips of the supports 164a and 164b restricts the rotation of the rolling element 144 around the central axis L3. However, the position of the engaging recess provided in the rolling element 144 and the position of the engaging protrusion provided in the support member 43 in order to limit the rotation of the rolling element 144 around the central axis L3 are not limited thereto. For example, an engagement recess is provided on the end surface of the rolling element 144 in the direction of the central axis L3 facing the axial facing portion 63, and the support member 43 has an engagement projection protruding inward of the engagement recess in the axial direction. You may provide in the part 63. FIG. Further, for example, an engaging recess that is recessed in the radial direction of the rolling element 144 may be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rolling element 144, and the support member 43 may be provided with an engaging protrusion that protrudes inside the engaging recess. The same applies to the case where the rolling element 144 is provided with an engaging protrusion and the support member 43 is provided with an engaging recess that engages with the engaging protrusion. Moreover, you may change similarly also in the said 3rd and 4th embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the support member 43 and each rolling element 144 are engaged at two locations in order to limit the rotation of the rolling element 144 around the central axis L3. However, the number of locations where the support member 43 and each rolling element 144 engage to limit the rotation of the rolling element 144 around the central axis L3 is not limited to two, and is one or three or more. Also good. The same applies to the support member 200 and each rolling element 210 of the third embodiment, and the support member 220 and each rolling element 230 of the fourth embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the first and second contact surfaces 171b and 172b of the rolling element 144, and the regulation surface 167c of the holding claw 167 facing the first and second contact surfaces 171b and 172b, By providing the permissible gap G3 between them, the rotation range around the central axis L3 of the rolling element 144 is limited. However, if the rotation of the rolling element 144 around the central axis L3 is restricted, the allowable gap G3 is not necessarily provided between the first and second contact surfaces 171b and 172b and the regulating surface 167c facing each other. May be. For example, the first contact surface 171b and the regulation surface 167c facing each other may always contact each other, and the second contact surface 172b and the regulation surface 167c facing each other may always contact each other. In this way, the rolling element 144 is rotated about its central axis L3 so that it does not rotate about its central axis L3 by the engaged first and second engaging recesses 171 and 172 and the holding claw 167. Limited. Even in this case, since the scattering of the grease GR due to the rolling element 144 rotating around the central axis L3 is suppressed, the grease GR between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and each of the rolling elements 144 is reduced. The shortage can be suppressed. The same applies to the second and fourth embodiments.

The rolling elements 144, 210, and 230 of each of the above embodiments may not necessarily have the shape of each of the above embodiments as long as they form a column shape extending in the axial direction (the direction of the central axis of the driving side rotating body 42). . For example, the rolling elements 144, 210, and 230 may have a two-sided width as viewed from the axial direction. For example, the rolling elements 144, 210, and 230 may have an outer shape that is elliptical when viewed from the axial direction.

In each of the above embodiments, the rolling elements 144, 210, and 230 are sandwiched between the control surface 83 of the driven side rotating body 45 and the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41 when the driving side rotating body 42 is not rotated. Thus, the rotation of the driven side rotating body 45 is prevented. However, the clamping member that clamps the rolling elements 144, 210, and 230 between the driving-side rotating body 42 and the driven-side rotating body 45 when the driving-side rotating body 42 is not rotated is not necessarily the clutch housing 41. The clamping member is opposed to the driven-side rotator 45 in the radial direction (that is, a direction orthogonal to the central axis of the drive-side rotator 42), and between the driven-side rotator 45 when the drive-side rotator 42 is not rotated. What is necessary is just to have the cyclic | annular inner peripheral surface which can clamp the rolling elements 144,210,230. For example, the clutch housing 41 is omitted, and the rolling elements 144, 210, and 230 are sandwiched between the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing recess 31 c and the driven side rotating body 45 when the driving side rotating body 42 is not rotated. May be.

In the above embodiments, the grease GR is applied to the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41. However, as long as the grease GR is arranged at least between the inner peripheral surface 41c of the clutch housing 41 and the rolling element 144, the arrangement position is not limited to the position of the above-described embodiment.

-In the said 2nd Embodiment, the shape of the clutch housing 41 which comprises the clutch 40, the drive side rotary body 42, the support member 43, the rolling element 144, and the driven side rotary body 45 does not necessarily need to be the shape of the said embodiment. Good. For example, the driving side rotating body 42 may be formed integrally with the rotating shaft 24. Further, for example, the driven-side rotator 45 may be provided separately from the worm shaft 34 and assembled so as to be rotatable integrally with the worm shaft 34. Further, the number of rolling elements 144 is not limited to two, and at least one rolling element 144 may be disposed between the inner peripheral surface 41 c of the clutch housing 41 and the driven side rotating body 45. The same applies to the third and fourth embodiments.

In the above embodiments, the material of each member constituting the clutch 40 may be changed. For example, the rolling elements 144, 210, 230 may be made of metal. Moreover, in each said embodiment, you may change the material of each member which comprises the motor 10. FIG. For example, the gear housing 31 may be made of metal.

In each of the above embodiments, the speed reduction mechanism 32 included in the output unit 30 includes the worm shaft 34 and the worm wheel 37, but the number of gears included in the speed reduction mechanism 32 may be changed as appropriate. Further, the speed reduction mechanism 32 may not necessarily be a worm speed reduction mechanism as long as it has a driven shaft connected to the rotation shaft 24 via the clutch 40. Further, the output unit 30 does not necessarily include the speed reduction mechanism 32 as long as it has a driven shaft connected to the rotation shaft 24 via the clutch 40 and can output the rotation transmitted from the rotation shaft 24. Also good.

In each of the above embodiments, the motor 10 is used as a drive source for the power window device, but may be used as a drive source for other devices.
In each of the above embodiments, the clutch 40 is provided in the motor 10 and connects the rotary shaft 24 and the worm shaft 34 of the speed reduction mechanism 32. However, the clutch 40 may be provided in a device other than the motor 10 and connect a rotating shaft that is rotationally driven to a driven shaft that is transmitted with the rotational driving force of the rotating shaft.

-You may implement combining said each embodiment and each said modification.

Claims (20)

1. An annular clutch housing;
   A drive-side rotating body that is rotationally driven;
   A driven-side rotator that has a portion disposed inside the clutch housing and to which a rotational driving force is transmitted from the drive-side rotator;
   A rolling element disposed between an inner circumferential surface of the clutch housing and the driven-side rotating body, the rolling body rotating together with the driving-side rotating body and the driving-side rotating body when the driving-side rotating body is driven to rotate; Rotating around the rotation axis of the body, and preventing the rotation of the driven side rotating body by being sandwiched between the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing and the driven side rotating body when the driving side rotating body is not driven to rotate. The rolling element;
   A support member that holds the rolling element between an inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing and the driven-side rotating body, and the support member rotates around the rotation axis of the driving-side rotating body together with the driving-side rotating body. The support member;
   Grease disposed at least between the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing and the rolling element;
   With
   The support member is a clutch that restricts rotation of the rolling element around a central axis of the rolling element.
2. The clutch according to claim 1, wherein
   The support member has a rotation direction facing portion facing the rolling element in the rotation direction of the driving side rotating body,
   Between the rotation direction facing portion and the rolling element, an allowable gap for determining a rotation range of the rolling element around a central axis of the rolling element is provided,
   When the rolling element rotates about the center axis of the rolling element by an amount permitted by the allowable gap, the rolling element comes into contact with the rotation direction facing portion and is prevented from further rotation.
3. The clutch according to claim 2,
   The rotation direction facing portion is one of a pair of rotation direction facing portions,
   The pair of rotation direction facing portions are provided on both sides in the rotation direction of the driving side rotating body with respect to the rolling element,
   When the rolling element rotates about the center axis of the rolling element by the amount allowed by the permissible gap, the clutch is configured such that portions of the rolling element on both sides in the rotation direction of the driving-side rotating element come into contact with the rotation direction facing portion. .
4. The clutch according to claim 3,
   The rolling elements have planar opposing surfaces on both sides of the rolling element in the rotational direction of the drive side rotator,
   Each of the opposing surfaces is a clutch facing the pair of rotational direction opposing portions and the rotational direction of the driving side rotating body.
5. The clutch according to claim 4,
   The drive-side rotator has a rolling element release portion that transmits the rotational driving force of the drive-side rotator to one of the pair of rotation direction opposing portions when the drive-side rotator is rotationally driven.
   The rolling element is configured to be pressed in the rotation direction of the driving side rotating body by the rolling element releasing unit via one of the pair of rotating direction facing parts at the start of rotational driving of the driving side rotating body. And
   When the rolling element is pressed, the clamping between the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing and the driven rotating body is released,
   Each of the pair of rotation direction facing portions has a flat contact surface,
   The abutting surface is a clutch that can come into surface contact with the facing surface in the rotational direction of the drive-side rotator.
6. The clutch according to claim 1, wherein
   The support member has a rotation direction facing portion facing the rolling element in the rotation direction of the driving side rotating body, and a contact portion.
   The rotation direction facing portion is configured to be pressed by the rolling element that is about to rotate about the center axis of the rolling element when the driving side rotating body is not rotated.
   The clutch is configured such that the abutting portion is moved radially outward when the rotating direction facing portion is pressed and abuts against an inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing.
7. The clutch according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
   The rolling element has a first arc surface and a second arc surface on an outer peripheral surface of the rolling element,
   The first arc surface is capable of contacting the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing and has an arc shape;
   The second arc surface has an arc shape having a smaller curvature than the first arc surface when viewed from the central axis direction of the rolling element, and can contact the driven side rotating body,
   When the drive side rotator is not driven to rotate, the first arc surface is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing, and the second arc surface is in contact with the driven side rotator. Is a clutch sandwiched between the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing and the driven-side rotor.
8. The clutch according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
   The rolling element has a sliding contact range and a grease containing recess on the outer peripheral surface of the rolling element,
   The sliding contact range defines a range of the outer peripheral surface that is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing as the rolling member rotates around the central axis of the rolling member within a range allowed by the support member. And
   The grease accommodating recess opens in the sliding contact range and accommodates the grease.
9. The clutch according to claim 1, wherein
   The support member has a rotation direction facing portion facing the rolling element in the rotation direction of the driving side rotating body,
   The rotation direction facing portion has a protruding piece extending toward the rolling element at a radially outer portion of the rotation direction facing portion,
   The clutch which has the front end surface which the front-end | tip part of the said protrusion piece extends in the direction which cross | intersects the rotation direction of the said drive side rotary body.
10. The clutch according to claim 1, wherein
    The rolling element has a rolling element side engaging portion,
    The said support member is a clutch which has a support member side engaging part which engages with the said rolling element side engaging part and restrict | limits the rotation of the said rolling element side engaging part around the center axis line of the said rolling element.
11. The clutch according to claim 10,
    Between the rolling element side engaging part and the support member side engaging part, an allowable gap for determining a rotation range of the rolling element around a central axis of the rolling element is provided,
    When the rolling element rotates about the center axis of the rolling element by an amount allowed by the allowable gap, the rolling element side engaging portion abuts on the support member side engaging portion, and further rotation is performed. The clutch to be blocked.
12. In the clutch according to claim 10 or 11,
    The rolling element side engagement portion is a clutch that is a recess into which the support member side engagement portion is inserted.
13. The clutch according to any one of claims 10 to 12,
    The support member includes a rotation direction facing portion and a holding claw,
    The rotation direction facing portion protrudes in the rotation axis direction of the driving side rotating body on both sides of the rolling body in the rotating direction of the driving side rotating body, and holds the rolling body from both sides of the driving side rotating body in the rotating direction. And
    The holding claw protrudes from the distal end portion of the rotation direction facing portion toward the rolling element and abuts on the rolling element from the rotation axis direction of the driving side rotating body,
    The rolling element side engaging portion is recessed at an end portion on the tip side of the rotating direction facing portion of the rolling element,
    The support member side engaging portion is a clutch that is the holding claw inserted into the rolling element side engaging portion.
14. The clutch according to any one of claims 10 to 12,
    The support member includes an axially facing portion and a rotationally facing portion,
    The axially facing portion is opposed to the rotational axis direction of the rolling element and the driving side rotating body,
    The rotation direction facing portion extends from the axial direction facing portion to both sides of the rolling element in the rotation direction of the driving side rotating body and holds the rolling element from both sides in the rotation direction of the driving side rotating body,
    The support member rotates around the rotation axis of the drive side rotator together with the drive side rotator,
    The drive-side rotator includes a rolling element release unit,
    The rolling element releasing unit abuts against the axially facing portion in the rotational direction of the driving side rotating body when the driving side rotating body is rotationally driven, and transmits the rotational driving force of the driving side rotating body to the axially facing portion. And
    The rolling element is configured to be pressed in the rotation direction of the drive side rotator by the rotation direction facing portion at the start of rotation drive of the drive side rotator,
    When the rolling element is pressed, the clamping between the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing and the driven rotating body is released,
    The rolling element rotates around the rotation axis of the driving side rotating body together with the driving side rotating body while being held by the support member during the rotational driving of the driving side rotating body,
    The support member side engaging portion is a clutch provided on at least one of a base end portion of the rotation direction facing portion and the axial direction facing portion.
15. The clutch according to any one of claims 10 to 14,
    The rolling element has a pair of rolling element side engaging portions recessed on both sides in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the rolling element at an end in the central axis direction of the rolling element,
    A portion between the pair of rolling element side engaging portions in the rolling element as seen from the direction of the central axis of the rolling element forms a plane parallel to the central axis of the rolling element and is parallel to each other. A clutch having a two-sided width shape having a face.
16. The clutch according to any one of claims 10 to 12,
    The rolling element is arranged such that a center axis of the rolling element is parallel to a rotation axis of the driving side rotating body,
    The rolling element side engaging portion is provided at an end portion in the central axis direction of the rolling element,
    The rolling element side engaging portion is a recess that increases in depth in the direction of the central axis of the rolling element in the direction perpendicular to the central axis of the rolling element from one end side to the other end side of the rolling element,
    The rolling element side engaging portion has an inclined bottom surface that is inclined with respect to a virtual plane orthogonal to the central axis of the rolling element,
    The support member side engaging portion is a convex portion protruding toward the inside of the rolling element side engaging portion in the rotation axis direction of the driving side rotating body,
    The front end surface of the support member side engagement portion is inclined with respect to a virtual plane orthogonal to the rotation axis of the drive side rotator, and is opposed to the inclined bottom surface in the direction of the rotation axis of the drive side rotator.
17. The clutch according to any one of claims 10 to 12,
    The support member includes a rotation direction facing portion and a contact portion,
    The rotation direction facing portion is provided on both sides of the rotation direction of the driving side rotating body with respect to the rolling element, and is opposed to the rolling element in the rotation direction of the driving side rotating body,
    The rotation direction facing portion is configured to be pressed by the rolling element that is about to rotate about the center axis of the rolling element when the driving-side rotating element is not rotated.
    The clutch is configured such that the abutting portion is moved radially outward when the rotating direction facing portion is pressed and abuts against an inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing.
18. The clutch according to any one of claims 10 to 17,
    The rolling element has a first arc surface and a second arc surface on an outer peripheral surface of the rolling element,
    The first arc surface has an arc shape that can contact the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing;
    The second arc surface has an arc shape having a smaller curvature than the first arc surface when viewed from the central axis direction of the rolling element, and can contact the driven side rotating body,
    When the drive side rotator is not driven to rotate, the first arc surface is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing, and the second arc surface is in contact with the driven side rotator. Is a clutch sandwiched between the inner peripheral surface of the clutch housing and the driven-side rotor.
19. The clutch according to any one of claims 10 to 18,
    The rolling element has a sliding contact range and a grease containing recess on the outer peripheral surface of the rolling element,
    The sliding contact range is determined by the rotation of the rolling element around the center axis of the rolling element within a range allowed by the rolling element side engaging portion and the support member side engaging portion. Defines the range of the outer peripheral surface in sliding contact with the peripheral surface;
    The grease accommodating recess opens in the sliding contact range and accommodates the grease.
20. A motor unit having a rotary shaft that is driven to rotate;
    The clutch according to any one of claims 1 to 19, comprising the driving side rotating body that rotates integrally with the rotating shaft.
    An output unit that has a driven shaft that rotates integrally with the driven-side rotator, and that outputs a rotational driving force transmitted to the driven shaft;
    Motor with.

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