JP3304620B2 - Clutch operation mechanism - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a clutch operating mechanism for pressing a clutch plate to connect a clutch device and releasing the clutch plate by releasing the clutch plate by operating a release mechanism in the axial direction. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a clutch device for a motorcycle is
It is located at one end of the transmission input shaft,
It is used to transmit or cut off torque transmitted from an engine crankshaft to a transmission input shaft. Such a clutch device includes an input unit connected to the crankshaft side of the engine, an output unit connected to the transmission input shaft,
It has a clutch main body disposed between the input section and the output section, and a clutch operating mechanism for pressing the clutch main body to connect the clutch device. A clutch body for a motorcycle usually has a multi-plate clutch structure and has a plurality of clutch plates. The clutch operating mechanism has a pressure plate disposed on a side of the clutch plate, and a pressing member for pressing the pressure plate toward the clutch plate.

When the clutch release operation is not performed, the pressure plate presses a plurality of clutch plates under the pressing force from the pressing member. Then, the plates are engaged with each other, and torque is transmitted from the input unit to the output unit. When the release mechanism moves the pressure plate in the axial direction, the pressure contact between the plates is released, and the transmission of torque from the input section to the output section is interrupted.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional clutch device, a total of 16 clutch plates are used, so that the total weight, inertia and dimensions increase. Therefore, it has been proposed to reduce the number of clutch plates.
In order to reduce the number of clutch plates, it is necessary to increase the pressing load of the pressing member to secure transmission torque. If the pressing load is increased, the load acting on the pressure plate at the time of release also increases, and the operation of the clutch lever (in the case of a motorcycle) cannot be performed smoothly.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to reduce the load applied during the release operation and to make the release operation smooth.

[0006]

A clutch operating mechanism according to the present invention connects a clutch device by pressing a clutch plate, and releases the pressing on the clutch plate by operating a release mechanism in the axial direction. It releases the connection, and includes a support member, a pressure plate, a cone spring, and a release member.
The support member is connected to the clutch device so as to rotate integrally therewith. The pressure plate is arranged to face the clutch plate in the axial direction. Cone spring
One of the inner peripheral portion and the outer peripheral portion is supported by the support member, and the radially intermediate portion presses the pressure plate toward the clutch plate. The release member is connected to the release mechanism,
The other of the inner peripheral portion and the outer peripheral portion of the cone spring can be abutted from the clutch plate side.

The cone spring has an outer peripheral portion supported by a support member, and the release member is preferably disposed on the inner peripheral side of the pressure plate. The support members are
Part on the inner peripheral side of the pressure plate of the latch device
Position connected to (36) to support the cone spring
Extending to

[0008]

When the release operation is not being performed, the radially intermediate portion of the disc-shaped elastic member presses the pressure plate, and the pressure plate presses the clutch plate of the clutch device. As a result, the clutch device is connected. When the clutch is engaged as described above, one of the inner peripheral portion and the outer peripheral portion of the elastic member is supported, and the radially intermediate portion applies a load to the pressure plate by an elastic force.

When the release mechanism moves the release member in the axial direction, the release member abuts the other of the inner and outer peripheral portions of the elastic member from the clutch plate side to deform the elastic member. As a result, the pressing force on the pressure plate is released, and the connection of the clutch device is released. At the time of this clutch release, one of an inner peripheral portion and an outer peripheral portion of the elastic member is supported, and the other applies a load to the release member by an elastic force. At the time of clutch release, the distance from the support position to the position where the load acts on the disc-shaped elastic member is longer than when the clutch is engaged. This can be expressed as that the rigidity of the elastic member is lower when the clutch is released than when the clutch is engaged. As a result, the load acting on the release member from the elastic member when releasing the clutch is considerably smaller than the load acting on the pressure plate from the elastic member when engaging the clutch. In this case, even if the pressing load of the disc-shaped elastic member is increased,
The load applied during the release operation is lower than before, and the release operation becomes smooth.

When the outer peripheral portion of the elastic member is supported by the support member and the release member is arranged on the inner peripheral side of the elastic member, the clutch operating mechanism becomes compact in the radial direction.

[0011]

1 and 2 show a clutch device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, OO is the rotation axis of the clutch device 1. Hereinafter, the left side in FIGS. 1 and 3 is referred to as an axial front, and the right side is referred to as an axial rear.
The clutch device 1 is mounted on a tip of a transmission input shaft 7 and receives an input portion 2 to which torque is transmitted from a crankshaft (not shown) on the engine side, and an output member 3 fixed to the transmission input shaft 7. And a clutch body 4 disposed between the input unit 2 and the output member 3
And a clutch operating mechanism 5 for pressing the clutch body 4 against each other.

The input unit 2 includes a hub flange 12 and a disk plate 13 disposed axially forward of the hub flange 12.
A coil spring 14 as a damper mechanism, a side plate 15 for supporting the coil spring 14,
And a clutch outer case 16. The hub flange 12 has a central boss 12a, a disk flange 12b extending from the boss 12a to the outer peripheral side, and a gear 12c provided on the outer peripheral side of the flange 12b. Boss 12
a is rotatably supported on the transmission input shaft 7 via a needle bearing 11. Flange 1
A plurality of notches 12d extending in the circumferential direction are formed in 2b. The gear 12c meshes with a drive gear 6 fixed to a crankshaft (not shown) on the engine side. A gear 13a is formed on the outer periphery of the disk plate 13, and the gear 13a is a gear 12c of the hub flange 12.
And the same as the drive gear 6. Disc plate 1
3 has a notch 12d in the flange 12b
Is formed. A coil spring 14 is arranged in these notches 12d and 13b (described later).

The side plate 15 is a disk plate 13
Are arranged on the front side in the axial direction. The holding portion 1 is provided on the disk plate 13 at a position corresponding to the coil spring 14.
5a are formed. The pressing portion 15a is cut and raised in the axial direction, and regulates the movement of the coil spring 14 in the axial direction. Clutch outer case 16
Is mainly composed of a disk portion 16a and a cylindrical portion 16b. The disk portion 16a is disposed axially rearward of the flange 12b. A holding portion 16c is formed on the disk portion 16a so as to correspond to the coil spring 14. The pressing portion 16c is cut and raised in the axial direction, and regulates the movement of the coil spring 14 in the axial direction. The disk portion 16a and the side plate 15 are connected by a plurality of stop pins 17. The stop pin 17
It penetrates through the circumferential holes 12e and 13c formed in the flange 12b and the disk plate 13, respectively. The circumferential holes 12 e and 13 c are formed to be long in the circumferential direction, so that the side plate 15 and the clutch outer case 16 are connected to the hub flange 12 and the disk plate 13.
Relative rotation by a predetermined angle.

The coil spring 14 has notches 12d, 1
3b, notches 12 at both ends in the circumferential direction.
d, 13b and the circumferential ends of the holding parts 15a, 16c. Therefore, the coil spring 14
Input side members (hub flange 12 and disc plate 1)
When relative rotation occurs between 3) and members on the output side (side plate 15 and clutch outer case 16), they are compressed in the circumferential direction.

The cylindrical portion 16 of the clutch outer case 16
b extends axially rearward from the outer peripheral portion of the disk portion 16a. A spline groove 16d is formed on the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 16b. An air hole 16e is formed in the cylindrical portion 16b from the outer peripheral surface to the spline groove 16d. The output member 3 is a member mainly formed of the boss 30, a flange 31 extending from the boss 30 to the outer peripheral side, and a cylindrical portion 32 extending axially rearward in the middle of the flange 31. A plate 40 is arranged between the boss 30 and the boss 12a of the hub flange 12. A spline groove 33 is formed on the outer peripheral side of the cylindrical portion 32. An air hole 34 is formed in the cylindrical portion 32 and communicates with the spline groove 33 from the inner peripheral surface. A spline groove 3 is provided on the inner peripheral portion of the boss 30.
5 is formed, and the spline groove 35 meshes with a spline shaft formed at the tip of the transmission input shaft 7. Protrusions 36 extending rearward in the axial direction are formed at six positions at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the inner side of the cylindrical portion 32. Each projection 36 has a bolt hole 37 formed therein.

The clutch body 4 is arranged in an annular space between the cylindrical portion 16b and the cylindrical portion 32. A flange 31 is disposed axially forward of the clutch body 4. The clutch body 4 is composed of five drive plates 20 and four driven plates 21. A friction facing 20 is provided on both sides of the drive plate 20.
a is stretched. Spline teeth 20b are formed on the outer periphery of the drive plate 20, and the spline teeth 20b are connected to the spline grooves 1 of the clutch outer case 16.
6d is engaged. In this manner, the drive plate 20 is fixed to the clutch outer case 16 so as not to rotate relative to the clutch outer case 16 in the circumferential direction, and is movable in the axial direction. Each driven plate 21 is arranged between the drive plates 20. A plurality of spline teeth 21 a are formed on the inner peripheral side of the driven plate 21. The spline teeth 21a mesh with spline grooves 33 formed in the cylindrical portion 32 of the output member 3. Thus, the driven plate 21 is fixed so as not to rotate relative to the output member 3 and is movable in the axial direction.

The clutch operating mechanism 5 includes a support member 25,
It mainly includes a pressure plate 26, a release member 27, and a cone spring 28. The support member 25 has a disk shape, and the output member 3 is
Are fixed to the projection 36. An annular ridge 25a extending in the circumferential direction on the outer periphery of the support member 25 and on the front surface in the axial direction.
Are formed. The pressure plate 26 is disposed axially rearward of the drive plate 20 and the driven plate 21. The pressure plate 26 has a pressing surface 26a on the plate 20, 21 side. At a plurality of locations on the inner peripheral side of the pressure plate 26, spline teeth 26b protruding radially inward are formed. A plurality of raised portions 26c extending in the circumferential direction are formed on a side surface of the pressure plate 26 opposite to the pressing surface 26a.
Are formed.

The release member 27 is a disk-shaped member disposed inside the pressure plate 26 in the radial direction.
It is moved in the axial direction by a release mechanism 8 fixed on the inner peripheral side. The release member 27 has a flange 27a extending radially outward. The release member 27 has a hole 27b through which the projection 36 of the output member 3 passes. By the engagement between the hole 27b and the projection 36, the release member 27 cannot rotate relative to the output member 3 and can move in the axial direction. Spline teeth 27c are formed at a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral portion of the flange 27a of the release member 27. The spline teeth 27c are engaged with the spline teeth 26b of the pressure plate 26. With this engagement, the pressure plate 26 is engaged with the release member 27 so as to be relatively non-rotatable and axially movable. Further, the outer peripheral portion of the flange 27a has a plurality of raised portions 27d extending long in the circumferential direction toward the rear side in the axial direction.

The cone spring 28 is a disc-shaped elastic member, and is disposed between the pressure plate 26 and the support member 25. The outer peripheral portion of the cone spring 28 is supported by the annular raised portion 25a of the support member 25. A radially intermediate portion of the cone spring 28 is in contact with a raised portion 26c of the pressure plate 26, and urges the pressure plate 26 toward the clutch body 4. The axially front side surface of the inner peripheral portion of the cone spring 28 is in contact with the raised portion 27 d of the release member 27.

Next, the operation will be described. Torque from a crankshaft (not shown) of the engine is input to the gears 12c and 13a via the drive gear 6. This torque is transmitted to the clutch outer case 16 via the coil spring 14. Clutch outer case 16
Transmitted to the output member 3 via the drive plate 20 and the driven plate 21 pressed against each other, and further output to the transmission input shaft 7.

In the above-described clutch connection, the cone spring 28 presses the pressure plate 26 with its radially intermediate portion in contact with the raised portion 26c of the pressure plate. That is, the cone spring 28 functions as a disc-shaped elastic member having a radius from the annular ridge 25a of the support member 25 to the ridge 26c of the pressure plate 26. Thus, the cone spring 28
Since the distance from the supported position to the position where the load acts is short, the spring constant is large (that is, the rigidity is high). As a result, the pressing load on the pressure plate 26 by the cone spring 28 in this embodiment is larger than that in the case where the outer peripheral portion presses the pressure plate 26.

When the clutch is released, the release mechanism 8 is pulled rearward in the axial direction, and the release mechanism 27 is moved together. At this time, the raised portion 27d of the release member 27 deforms the cone spring 28. Thereby, the pressing force on the pressure plate 26 is released. As a result,
The pressure contact with the drive plate 20 and the driven plate 21 is released, and the torque transmission is interrupted.

When the clutch is released, the inner peripheral portion of the cone spring 28 presses the raised portion 27d of the release member 27. At this time, the distance from the position where the cone spring 26 is supported to the position where the load is applied is shorter than when the clutch is engaged. As a result, the load (release load) applied from the cone spring 26 to the release member 27 at the time of clutch release is significantly smaller than the load (pressing load) applied from the cone spring 26 to the pressure plate 26 at the time of clutch engagement. For this reason, even if the number of clutch plates is reduced and the pressing load of the cone spring 28 for securing the transmission torque is set to be large, the release load becomes smaller than before. As a result, the release operation becomes smooth.

Since the release member 27 is arranged on the inner peripheral side of the pressure plate 26, the clutch operating mechanism 5 is compact in the radial direction. Since the release member 27 has a structure in which the pressure plate 26 is directly moved in the axial direction, another mechanism for raising the pressure plate 26 becomes unnecessary.

[0025]

When the clutch is released, one of the inner and outer peripheral portions of the elastic member is supported, and the other applies a load to the release member by an elastic force. At the time of clutch release, the distance from the support position to the load application position is longer in the disc-shaped elastic member than when the clutch is engaged. This can be expressed as that the rigidity of the elastic member is lower when the clutch is released than when the clutch is engaged. As a result, the load acting on the release member from the elastic member when releasing the clutch is considerably smaller than the load acting on the pressure plate from the elastic member when engaging the clutch. In this case, even if the number of clutch plates is reduced and the pressing load of the disc-shaped elastic member is further increased,
The load applied during the release operation is lower than before, and the release operation becomes smooth.

When the outer peripheral portion of the elastic member is supported by the support member and the release member is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the elastic member, the clutch operating mechanism becomes compact in the radial direction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a clutch device in which one embodiment of the present invention is adopted.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view of the clutch device.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Clutch device 5 Clutch operating mechanism 8 Release mechanism 25 Support member 26 Pressure plate 27 Release member 28 Cone spring

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A clutch operating mechanism that presses a clutch plate to connect a clutch device, and releases a press on the clutch plate by an axial operation of a release mechanism to release the connection of the clutch device. A support member connected to the clutch device so as to rotate integrally therewith; a pressure plate disposed axially opposite to the clutch plate; one of an inner peripheral portion and an outer peripheral portion is supported by the support member;
A cone spring that presses the pressure plate toward the clutch plate at a radially intermediate portion, and a release that is connected to the release mechanism and that can contact the other of the inner and outer peripheral portions of the cone spring from the clutch plate side. A clutch operating mechanism comprising: a member; 2. The clutch operating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein an outer peripheral portion of said cone spring is supported by said support member, and said release member is disposed on an inner peripheral side of said pressure plate. 3. The clutch member according to claim 1, wherein the support member is
Connect to the portion (36) on the inner peripheral side of the pressure plate.
And extend to a position supporting the cone spring.
The clutch operating mechanism according to claim 2, wherein