WO2005111453A1 - Clutch actuator of automatic transmission - Google Patents

Abstract

An actuator capable of increasing gear shift quality, capable of being reduced in size and weight, capable of contributing to the improvement of the fuel consumption of an automobile, and capable of measuring the wear amount of a clutch by incorporating a mechanism for accurately correcting a variation in reaction due to the wear of the friction material of the clutch to reduce load and reducing the size of the actuator while increasing the operability of the actuator. An assist means generating an auxiliary force for assisting a drive means comprises a mechanism for adjusting the magnitude of the auxiliary force by utilizing the operating positions of the actuator different between cases when the clutch is new and the clutch is worn, namely, the change of the position of the actuator arranged continuously with a clutch reaction transmission means in the direct acting direction so that a variation in load acting on the drive means when the clutch is new and the clutch is worn can be reduced.

Description

Automatic transmission clutching Technical field ·

 The present invention relates to an equipment operation system for a vehicle, and more particularly to an operation system for operating a starting clutch of a mechanical automatic transmission for a vehicle.

 Light

Background Art Fine 1

 During the operation of the starting clutch for a car, a large reaction force is received from the starting clutch during operation. The large reaction force is due to the fact that a strong spring is installed to compress the friction material of the clutch in order to transmit the engine torque to drive the car. Disc springs (diaphragm springs) are usually used as springs for this clutch, and due to the advantages of its shape, the clutch can be made compact and resistant to rotational centrifugal force. However, since the disc spring has a non-linear characteristic between the load and the amount of deflection, the friction of the disc spring is reduced when the friction material of the clutch is new and thick, or when the friction material is worn out and the thickness of the friction material decreases. The power changes greatly. This change in the reaction force immediately leads to an increase in the operating force of the clutch. Generally, when worn, the clutch is heavy and the operability is poor. Therefore, in order to maintain the operability of the clutch from new to worn and to maintain the shifting quality, it is necessary to keep the reaction force of the clutch unchanged. This can be achieved by using a mechanism that offsets the reduction in thickness due to wear of the friction material of the clutch,

For example, a member with a tapered portion is provided in the portion of the clutch mechanism that transmits the operating force, and the taper part is engaged by the worn amount to change the distance and reduce the thickness. A method has been devised that cancels out.

As a conventional example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-187,756 describes a mechanism for compensating the wear amount using an adjust wedge member having a part of a taper. Disclosure of the invention

 However, in the configuration of the above-mentioned conventional technology, since the member having the sliding surface is moved at the clutch portion where a very large force is applied to perform the agitating operation, conditions such as temperature, humidity, vibration and the like when performing the agitating are required. The adjustment amount was changed by the above-mentioned change, and this was an uncertain factor, and in a mechanical automatic transmission that performed a precise clutch operation, it was a minus factor with respect to the high-precision control of the control. Also, since the wear amount is corrected at the clutch, the wear amount cannot be grasped on the control side, and the control side suppresses the change in characteristics due to the wear amount of the friction material of the clutch and the replacement time of the clutch disk. Could not.

 It is an object of the present invention to reduce the load by incorporating a mechanism for accurately correcting a change in reaction force due to wear of a friction material of a clutch in an actuator, to reduce the size of the body while improving the operability of the actuator. The aim is to provide a compact and lightweight vehicle that can improve the gear shifting quality, contribute to improving the fuel efficiency of automobiles, and measure the amount of clutch wear.

 The present invention provides a drive source that can be electrically controlled, an assist unit that urges an auxiliary force against a clutch reaction force to a drive force generated by the drive source, and reduces the drive force of the drive source. In a clutch actuating unit having a force transmitting unit for transmitting a driving force generated by the driving source and an assisting force generated by the assist unit to a clutch, the assist unit includes a clutch reaction force transmitting unit, for example, a relay. When the connecting position of the force transmitting means moves in the direction of linear movement of the force transmitting means, a clutch actuating unit provided with an auxiliary force varying section for changing the magnitude of the assist force generated by the assist section is provided. .

 Then, in response to the change of the clutch reaction force caused by the wear of the wear agent of the clutch, the auxiliary variable portion follows the auxiliary force and increases the auxiliary force.

In addition, the auxiliary variation portion contacts the force transmission portion and is engaged with an assist spring, rotates by a clutch reaction force, and changes a set angle in a clutch operation direction with wear of a friction material of the clutch. Provide an actuary with a rotating member approaching 0 °. Brief Description of Drawings

 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment in which a clutch of an automobile is operated by using an operation factory according to the present invention.

 FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the operation of a clutch to be operated.

 FIG. 3 is a view showing a change in a clutch reaction force changed by abrasion of the friction material of the clutch.

 FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which the friction material of the clutch is worn in one embodiment of operating the clutch of the automobile using the actuator according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation state of the assist means when the friction material of the clutch is new and worn.

 FIG. 6 is a view showing another embodiment of the present invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

 Electrically controllable drive means (drive unit) and assist means for urging the auxiliary force against the clutch reaction force to the force generated by the drive force means to reduce the drive power of the drive means required for clutch operation And a force transmitting unit (force transmitting unit) for transmitting a force generated by the driving unit and an auxiliary force generated by the assisting unit to a clutch. The magnitude of the assisting force generated by the clutch varies with the movement of the connecting position of the force transmitting means in the direction of direct movement caused by the wear of the friction material of the clutch, and the clutch reaction caused by the wear of the friction material of the clutch. The present invention provides a clutch actuating mechanism in which the magnitude of the auxiliary force follows the change in force, and the operating force required for the driving means is reduced from the time when the friction material of the clutch is new to the time when it is worn.

In the clutch work, a rotational torque is generated inside assist means, and the rotational torque is converted into direct power to be an auxiliary force. A rotating torque is applied to the rotating arm as a fulcrum, and a direct acting component in the clutch operating direction is extracted from the rotating acting point on the arm and used as the auxiliary force, and the clutch having a large reaction force of the clutch. 200

 4 When the angle between the arm and the operating direction of the clutch when the friction material is worn and the angle between the arm and the operating direction of the clutch when the friction material of the clutch with a small clutch reaction force is small are compared, the reaction force of the clutch is large. An angle provides a clutch actuator that is more efficient in transmitting the power from the rotational torque of the arm to the auxiliary force.

 A change in the magnitude of the assisting force applied to the clutch by the assist means is generated by an arm or a cam mechanism provided in the assist means. A change in the magnitude of the assisting force applied to the clutch by the assisting means may be generated by an unequal pitch screw mechanism provided in the assisting means and having a linear motion distance of a linear motion portion with respect to rotation. Good.

 [: Example 1]

 Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment in which a clutch 2 of an automobile is operated using a clutch factory according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the parts that do not move, such as the transmission case and vehicle body, are generally referred to as the base with respect to the movable parts of the clutch. The drive means (part) 4 as a drive source is composed of a motor 4A, a feed screw 4B, and a nut 4C, and is electrically controlled by a controller (not shown). When the motor 4A rotates, a direct drive force (drive force in the direct drive direction) is generated by the rotation mechanism of the feed screw 4B and the nut 4C, and is fixed to the base. The output of the driving means 4 is obtained from the rotation of the nut 4C, which is connected to the arm 5C constituting the force transmitting means and further to the operating end of the relay fork 3A which is the reaction force transmitting means of the clutch 2 to be operated It is conveyed to. Here, the arm 5C is fixed to the base so as to be freely movable in the operation direction of the clutch. Note that the arm 5C normally has a mechanism for absorbing the displacement of the operation end caused by the circular movement of the release fork 3A, but is omitted in this embodiment, and the same function is assumed to be realized. . The assist means (part) 5 is composed of an arm 5A and an assist spring 5B. The arm 5A has a rotating part 5G fixed to a base, and rotates around the rotation center of the rotating part 5G and moves to one end. The transmission unit 5H provided is in contact with the arm 5C. Spring 5 B has ideal characteristics, A rotational torque TA that is opposite to the reaction force of the clutch 2 can be applied to the arm 5A. The rotation torque TA generated by the spring 5B is transmitted to the force transmitting means through the arm 5A, and further transmitted to the operating end of the release fork 3A of the clutch 2 to be operated. At this time, the auxiliary force 5F by the spring 5B becomes a force acting in the direction opposite to the clutch reaction force 3F, and acts to reduce the load on the driving means 4. That is, as the reaction force of the clutch 2 changes, the assist means 5 moves in the direction of linear movement between the connecting surface of the release fork 3A and the arm 5C of the force transmitting means and the connecting end which is the operating end of the force transmitting means. An assist force variation unit is provided that can change the magnitude of the assist force generated by the assist means 5 by moving and changing the position. In the case of this example, the auxiliary force changing section is constituted by the arm 5A, the spring 5B, and the like. In response to the change in the reaction force of the clutch due to the wear of the clutch 2, the auxiliary force changing section changes the auxiliary force by following it, for example, increasing it. Further, a sensor (not shown) for measuring the position of the arm 5C of the force transmitting means is attached, and a sensor signal is taken into a controller (not shown). FIG. 2 shows the details of the clutch 2 with the clutch released. The clutch 2 is formed integrally with the flywheel 2A attached to the output shaft 1 of the engine. A clutch disc 2C is inserted between the pressure plate 2B, which is fixed to the flywheel 2A in the rotational direction, and the flywheel 2A, and torque is transmitted from the flywheel 2A to the clutch disc 2C. The input shaft 6 of the transmission is mounted on the clutch disc 2C. The diaphragm spring 2D is disposed between the clutch cover 2E and the sharp plate 2B, and is fixed to the clutch cover by a fulcrum 2G. In the state where no force is applied from the outside, the diaphragm spring 2D tries to open between the fulcrum 2G and the pressure plate 2B, and presses the pressure plate 2B in the direction of the flywheel 2A, so that the clutch disk It creates a force that sandwiches 2C. Here, one end of the diaphragm spring 2D extends to the center of the clutch and is in contact with the release bearing 3B at the center. Here, when the release bearing 3B is pushed in, the diaphragm spring 2D bends around the fulcrum 2G, so that the pressure plate 2B The pressing force is reduced.

 The release bearing 3B is pushed in by operating the release fork 3A. That is, when the release bearing 3B is pushed through the release fork 3A, the clutch 2 is released, and when the pushing force is eliminated, the clutch 2 is returned and engaged by the reaction force of the diaphragm spring 2D.

 Now, the operation of the clutch activator in the embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described as follows.

 When the operation of releasing the clutch 2 is performed, electric power is supplied to the driving means 4 from a controller (not shown), and a driving force of 4 A is generated. The generated driving force is converted into a direct acting force by the rotation of the feed screw 4B and the nut 4C, transmitted to the arm 5C of the force transmitting means, and acts to push the operating end of the release fork of the clutch 2 so that the clutch 2 To release. When the disengagement operation of the clutch 2 starts, the actuator receives the clutch reaction force 3F. Here, since the auxiliary force 5 F generated from the assist means 5 is applied in a direction opposing the clutch reaction force 3 F, the load on the drive means 4 is reduced, and the clutch 2 can be operated with a small drive force. Is possible. Here, as the use of the clutch 2 progresses and the friction material of the clutch 2 wears, the thickness of the clutch disc 2C decreases, so that the positions of the connection and disconnection contact points change, and the magnitude of the clutch reaction force increases. It also changes. FIG. 3 shows this clutch reaction force change.

 This is a phenomenon caused by a change in the amount of deflection of the diaphragm spring 2D due to a decrease in the thickness of the clutch disk 2C due to abrasion, and a non-linear load-deflection curve of the diaphragm spring 2D. For this reason, in order to effectively reduce the load on the driving means 4 from the time when the clutch 2 is new to when it is worn, the auxiliary force 5 F generated by the assist means 5 varies according to the wear amount of the clutch. To do.

In this embodiment, when the thickness of the clutch disc 2C is reduced due to wear (FIG. 4), the release fork 3A is also pushed back, and the new fork is used. In some cases, the set angle 0 in the operating direction of the arm 5A arranged in the assist means and the arm 5C of the force transmitting means is small (No. Fig. 5 (a), for example, about 60 degrees, and the set angle 0 becomes large during wear (Fig. 5 (b), close to 90 degrees). In other words, the auxiliary force varying portion contacts the above-described force transmission means and includes the assist spring 5B. The assist force varying portion rotates by the reaction force of the clutch, and the set angle in the clutch operation direction reduces the wear of the friction material of the clutch. It is equipped with a rotating member adapted to approach 90 degrees. This rotating member and the above-described assist spring 5B are engaged. The arm driving force 7 due to the rotational torque TA generated by the assist spring 5 B is affected by the set angle 6> when transmitted to the force transmitting means, and is a value obtained by multiplying the arm driving force 7 by sin 6>. . Therefore, when the clutch is new, the set angle 0 is small, the force 8 transmitted to the force transmitting means is small, and when the set angle 6> is large, the force 8 transmitted to the force transmitting means is large. The mounting length of the assist spring 5B itself is also varied, but the assist spring 5B has ideal characteristics, and is not changed with respect to the mounting length, or is not illustrated. It is assumed that the clutch has an adjustment mechanism so that the rotational torque TA generated by the assist spring 5B does not change from when the clutch is new to when it is worn.

 As described above, according to the present embodiment, the auxiliary force 5F generated from the assist means 5 can also be changed according to the amount of wear of the clutch, and the load on the drive means for operating the clutch can be changed from the time when the clutch is new. The same can be achieved until wear, and the shifting quality can be kept constant. In addition, since it can be configured without a mechanism for compensating the wear amount of the clutch 2, there is no complicated part, so that a highly reliable actuator can be configured. Also, the wear amount of the clutch 2 can be detected by the sensor of the actuator.

 [Example 2]

 Another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of another embodiment in which the clutch 2 of the automobile is operated by using an actuator according to another embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in the previous embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description is made using the description in the previous embodiment. Here, the difference from the embodiment shown in FIG. The assist means 5 of the present embodiment is provided with a cam 5D constituting a cam mechanism and an assist mechanism. The cam 5D, which is a rotating member composed of a spring 5B, rotates around a rotation center fixed to the base and contacts the arm 5C of the force transmission means. The spring 5B has ideal characteristics, and applies a rotational torque TA to the cam 5D, which is opposite to the reaction force of the clutch. The rotation torque TA generated by the spring 5B is converted into thrust through the cam 5D and transmitted to the arm 5C of the force transmission means. The power is further transmitted from the arm 5C to the operating end of the release fork 3A of the clutch 2, which is a transmission means. At this time, the auxiliary force 5F by the spring 5B becomes a force acting in the direction opposite to the clutch reaction force 3F, and acts to reduce the load on the driving means 4.

 Now, the operation of the clutch work of the above configuration will be described as follows.

 When the operation of releasing the clutch 2 is performed, electric power is supplied to the driving means 4 from a controller (not shown) to generate the driving force of the motor 4A. The generated driving force is converted into a direct acting force by the rotation of the feed screw 4B and the nut 4C, transmitted to the transmission means, and acts so as to push the operating end (connecting end) of the release fork 3A of the clutch 2. Release clutch 2. When the release operation of clutch 2 starts, Yakuchi Yue receives a clutch reaction force of 3F. Here, since the auxiliary force 5 F generated from the assist means 5 is applied in a direction opposing the clutch reaction force 3 F, the load on the drive means 4 is reduced, and the clutch 2 can be operated with a small drive force. Is possible.

 In this embodiment, when the thickness of the clutch disc 2C is reduced due to wear, the release fork 3A is also pushed back, so that the release fork 3A comes closer to the actuary than in the case of a new one. The conversion efficiency from the cam 5D arranged in 5 to the transmission means arm 5C is set low, and the conversion efficiency is set high when worn. The rotational torque T A generated by the assist spring 5B is affected by the conversion efficiency when transmitted to the force transmitting means. Therefore, the force transmitted to the force transmitting means is small when the clutch is new with low conversion efficiency, and the force transmitted to the force transmitting means is large when the clutch is worn with high conversion efficiency.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the assistance generated by the assist means 5 The change in the force 5 F can be made more accurate by using the cam 5 D whose conversion efficiency changes according to the wear amount of the clutch 2, and the load on the drive means for operating the clutch 2 can be changed from the new clutch. The gear shifting quality can be kept constant until wear is achieved. In addition, since it can be configured without a mechanism for compensating the wear amount of the clutch 2, there is no complicated part, so that a highly reliable factory can be configured. Also, the wear amount of the clutch 2 can be detected by the sensor of the actuator. Further, in the present embodiment, mechanical mechanisms such as the arms 5A and 5C and the cam 5D are used in order to vary the magnitude of the assist force applied from the assist means 5 to the force transmitting means. If the same effect can be obtained, for example, a variable pitch screw having an unequal pitch screw mechanism in which the distance traveled by the nut with respect to rotation changes depending on the position of the nut, or a reaction force depending on the wear state of the clutch 2 It is also possible to use a spring that changes the position or a means for moving the position of the panel seat.

 As described above, according to the present invention, the magnitude of the assisting force as an assist car can be adjusted in accordance with the thickness of the clutch disk. In particular, the reaction force received from the clutch can be adjusted from when the clutch is new to when it is worn. However, the load applied to the driving means can be kept constant by the assist means effectively. As a result, the operation of the clutch can always be performed with constant quality.

Claims

O 2005/111453 10 Scope of request 1. An electrically controllable drive source,  An assist unit that urges an auxiliary force opposing a clutch reaction force to a driving force generated by the driving source, and reduces a driving force of the driving source;  In a clutch actuating unit having a driving force generated by the driving source and a force transmitting unit that transmits an assisting force generated by the assist unit to the clutch,  The assist unit includes an auxiliary force changing unit that changes a magnitude of an assist force generated by the assist unit when a connection position between the reaction force transmitting unit of the clutch and the force transmitting unit moves in a direction in which the force transmitting unit moves linearly. To prepare  A special feature of Clutchaku Yue.  2. The auxiliary variable portion according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary variable portion follows the auxiliary force in response to a change in the reaction force of the clutch due to wear of the friction material of the clutch. A special feature of Clutchaku Yue. 3. In Claim 2, the auxiliary variation portion contacts the force transmission portion, has an assist spring, rotates by a reaction force of a clutch, and has a set angle in a clutch operation direction. A clutch actuator comprising a rotating member which approaches 90 ° with the wear of the friction material of the clutch. 4. The clutch actuator according to claim 3, wherein the rotating member is an arm.  5. The clutch actuator according to claim 3, wherein the rotating member is a cam mechanism.