JPH0728424Y2 - Clutch release bearing drive mechanism - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to a release bearing drive mechanism used for a friction clutch of a vehicle such as an automobile.

(Prior Art) Generally, in a friction clutch of an automobile, a release bearing for controlling engagement / disengagement of the clutch is connected to a clutch pedal via a link mechanism, a lever mechanism, or the like.

However, in the structure using the link mechanism or the lever mechanism, the release bearing may not be accurately controlled due to friction or deformation of each part. Further, the friction and deformation also cause a loss of the force transmitted to the release bearing, which causes a problem that the efficiency of the clutch is lowered even in the structure in which the hydraulic cylinder and the lever mechanism are combined.

In order to solve the above problems, the applicant of the present application has developed a clutch release bearing drive mechanism in which a rotary member interlockingly connected to a clutch pedal and a slave piston connected to a release bearing are interlockingly connected by a rolling element cam mechanism. Have filed an application (Japanese Patent Application No. 63-214658).

As a result, the circular equilibrium during release is maintained. However, a fixed holder that movably supports the slave piston only in the axial direction and a thrust bearing that is connected to the clutch pedal and performs only a rotary motion must be provided.
The structure is complicated.

(Purpose of the Invention) The purpose of the present invention is to use a rolling element cam mechanism to maintain an annular balance force, smooth the operation of the release, reduce parts such as thrust bearings, and drive the release bearing. The aim is to simplify the mechanism.

(Technical Means for Achieving the Purpose) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention connects a rotatable and axially movable slave piston to a release bearing, and a non-rotatable and axially immovable tubular fixing. It fits in the holder and a fan-shaped guide arm is integrally formed on the outer peripheral surface of the slave piston.The slave piston is interlockingly connected to the clutch pedal via a wire cable so as to impart a rotational force to the slave piston. On one of the mating surfaces of the fixed holder and the fixed holder, a ball holding hole row formed by forming three or more hemispherical ball holding holes on the same circumference is provided at intervals in the axial direction. A plurality of rows are formed, and the balls are fitted and held in the respective ball holding holes. On the other surface, a plurality of rows of semi-circular spiral guide grooves are formed, and the balls are inserted in the spiral guide grooves. The rotatably engaged engagement converts the rotational force applied to the slave piston into a spiral motion to move the release bearing in the axial direction.

(Operation) When a rotational force is applied to the slave piston via the wire cable by depressing the clutch pedal, the slave piston moves in the axial direction while rotating by being converted into a spiral motion by the rolling element cam mechanism. At the same time, the release bearing moves in the axial direction and the clutch disengages.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a release bearing drive mechanism to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, the clutch housing 1 is fixed to a transmission case or an engine and is coaxial with the clutch shaft 2. The sleeve 10 is integrally formed. A release bearing 12 and a cylindrical slave piston 8 are sequentially arranged on the outer peripheral side of the sleeve 10 from the front. The release bearing 12 is axially movable and rotatable, and the slave piston 8 is also rotatable and axially movable. Is. The inner case 12b that holds the inner race of the release bearing 12 is a diaphragm spring 19
The outer case 12a, which contacts the inner peripheral end of the slave bearing 8 and holds the outer race of the release bearing 12, contacts the front end edge of the slave piston 8. That is, slave piston 8
By this, the release bearing 12 can be pushed forward, whereby the diaphragm spring 19 is bent to separate the pressure plate of the clutch from the facing of the clutch disc and release the clutch.

A cylindrical fixed holder 5 is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the slave piston 8, and the fixed holder 5 is fixed to the step surface 10a of the sleeve 10 via a flange 5a so as not to be rotatable and axially movable.

At the fitting portion of the slave piston 8 and the fixed holder 5, a rolling element cam mechanism including a ball 20, a spiral guide groove 13 and the like is provided for spirally moving the slave piston 8. That is, a plurality of spiral guide grooves 13 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the slave piston 8, and the inclination direction and inclination angle of the guide grooves 13 are appropriately set according to the desired operating characteristics of the release bearing mechanism. On the inner peripheral surface of the fixed holder 5,
A plurality of (three or more) ball holding pieces 15 are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and a spherical ball holding recess 16 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of each ball holding piece 15. A steel ball 20 is rotatably positioned and held in each ball holding concave portion 16 via a retainer 17, and each ball 20 is rotatably fitted in a guide groove 13. That is, when a rotational force is applied to the slave piston 8, the cam action of the ball 20 and the guide groove 13 causes the slave piston 8 to make a spiral motion that advances in the axial direction while rotating.

The slave piston 8 utilizes a wire cable 27 to obtain a rotational driving force. That is, a fan-shaped guide arm 25 extending outward in the radial direction is integrally formed on the outer peripheral surface of the front end portion of the slave piston 8, and the wire is inserted in the guide groove 25a formed at the outer peripheral end portion of the guide arm 25. A cable 27 is arranged.

In FIG. 2, which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1, one end of the wire cable 27 is fixed to the circumferential end of the guide arm 25, and the wire cable 27 is wound around the guide groove 25a so that the clutch pedal 30 can rotate. It extends to the side, passes through the inside of the outer wire 36, and is connected to the clutch pedal 30. Adjust both ends of the outer wire 36 to appropriate fixing members.
It is fixed through 40 and 41. 31 is a return spring for the clutch pedal, and the clutch pedal 31 is turned on.
Energize to the side. Therefore, when the clutch pedal 30 is depressed, the wire cable 27 is pulled and the slave piston 8 is indicated by the arrow A.
When a rotational force in the direction is applied and the foot is released from the clutch pedal 30, the slave piston 8 rotates in the direction opposite to the arrow A direction due to the pushing back force of the wire cable 27 and the restoring force of the diaphragm spring.

The balls 20 are arranged on the respective circumferences C1 and C2 which are axially spaced from each other, as shown in FIG. That is, they are arranged in two rows and are alternately arranged in a so-called zigzag pattern.

The operation will be described. When the clutch pedal 30 is depressed, the wire cable 27 is pulled, and the slave piston 8 is given a rotational force in the direction of arrow A in FIG. Then, the slave piston 8 rotates in the direction of arrow A and, at the same time, moves forward in the axial direction by the cam action of the ball cam mechanism. That is, it makes a spiral motion. This spiral movement allows release bearing 12
Push forward to bend the diaphragm spring 19 and release the clutch.

In the release operation, a plurality of balls 20 are arranged in the circumferential direction and a plurality of balls are also arranged in the axial direction, so that the slave piston 8 is held with a holding force balanced in both the circumferential direction and the axial direction. Also, the load on each ball 20 is reduced.

When the foot is released from the clutch pedal 30, a rotational force in the direction opposite to the arrow A direction is applied to the slave piston 8 due to the push-back force of the return spring 31, the restoring force of the diaphragm spring 19, etc. Then, it returns and the clutch is connected.

The drive system using only the wire cable as described above is suitable for a clutch having a relatively small release load (2000 KN or less), and a clutch operation with an efficiency of 90% or more is possible by the clutch pedal depression force.

(Another embodiment) (1) FIG. 3 shows that the fixed holder 5 is fixed to the outer peripheral side of the sleeve 10 so as to be immovable in the axial direction and non-rotatable, and is slaved to the outer peripheral surface of the fixed holder 5 so as to be axially movable and rotatable. This is an example in which the piston 8 is fitted, a plurality of balls 20 are positioned and held on the inner peripheral surface of the slave piston 8, and the spiral guide groove 13 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the fixed holder 5. The other structure is the same as the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Also, the operation is the same as in the case of FIGS. 1 and 2, and when a rotational force in the direction of arrow A is applied to the slave piston 8 by the wire cable 27, the slave piston 8 spirally moves due to the cam action of the ball cam mechanism. Move forward and push the release bearing 12 forward.

(Other Examples) (1) It is also possible to arrange three or more rows of balls arranged in the same circumference at intervals in the axial direction.

(2) The illustrated embodiment is applied to a so-called push type clutch that releases by pushing the diaphragm spring, but it can also be applied to a pull type clutch that releases by pulling the release bearing.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention as described above: (1) The applied rotational force is converted into a spiral motion by the rolling element cam mechanism to move the release bearing 12 in the axial direction, and the rolling element in the circumferential direction. Unlike the conventional release bearing drive mechanism that uses a lever mechanism or a link mechanism, the release bearings can be directly driven by an annular balanced force, and the loss or deviation of operating force due to wear or deformation can be avoided. This will prevent the release bearing from operating more smoothly.

(2) Since the slave piston itself to which a rotational force is applied is moved in the axial direction by performing a spiral motion, a thrust bearing or the like is unnecessary, the number of parts is small, and the mechanism can be simplified.

(3) Wire cable 27 connected to clutch pedal 30
Since the slave piston is given a rotational force by means of this, the reliability is high and the transmission efficiency is good.

(4) As an array structure of the balls 20, three or more ball holding holes 16 are arranged on the same circumference, and the row of ball holding holes is
Since a plurality of rows are formed at intervals in the axial direction, the slave piston 8 is held by a holding force that is balanced in both the circumferential direction and the axial direction, and the load on each ball is reduced, further improving operability. It will improve.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a release bearing drive mechanism to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1, and FIG.
The figure is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment. 5 ... Fixed holder, 8 ... Slave piston, 12 ... Release bearing, 13 ... Spiral guide groove, 16 ... Ball holding hole (rolling element holding part), 20 ... Ball (rolling element), 30 ...
… Clutch pedal

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A rotary and axially movable slave piston is connected to a release bearing and is fitted into a cylindrical fixed holder that is non-rotatable and axially immovable, and a fan-shaped guide arm is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the slave piston. Formed integrally, interlockingly connecting the slave piston to the clutch pedal via a wire cable so as to impart a rotational force to the slave piston, one of the fitting surfaces of the slave piston and the fixed holder, A ball holding hole row formed by forming three or more hemispherical ball holding holes on the same circumference,
A plurality of rows are formed at intervals in the axial direction, balls are fitted and held in the respective ball holding holes, and a plurality of rows of spiral guide grooves having a semicircular cross section are formed on the other surface. A release bearing drive mechanism for a clutch, characterized in that the ball is rotatably engaged with the groove so that the rotational force to the slave piston is converted into a spiral motion to move the release bearing in the axial direction. .